At the sight of Jesus, Simeon takes him into his arms and blesses God in an exuberant hymn of praise. God’s word had been fulfilled. Simeon would not die before seeing the one who would bring salvation to the world. Simeon sees and holds the Savior, who is still only in diapers. Yet, the hope that he held his whole life had found an answer in this little one full of promise. We can easily imagine the follow-up scene, when decades later in the afterlife, Simeon encounters the Risen One and they share a mutual embrace of gratitude.
Simeon’s hopeful arms held the mystery of God. And if he was able to do so, it’s because he too was held with arms full of hope by those who came before him, parents, grandparents, family members, and friendly elders who love holding and caring for babies, who sing God’s praises for the promise of a new life.
If we have made it this far in life, it is without a doubt because people have picked us up and held us in their arms full of hope. Many of these may no longer be with us, but their hope and their love still carry us. Today, perhaps we can pray for them in thanksgiving and hope for that mutual embrace of love with them that God might graciously grant us in the next life.