Simeon - Revision history

Greetje: New page: {{info}}Come, children, gather ‘round tonight,
And listen in the candlelight
To how your great grandfather died.
It is a tale my father tried
To fix inside my heart so deep
Greetje — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:27:52 GMT

New page: {{info}}Come, children, gather ‘round tonight,<br>And listen in the candlelight<br>To how your great grandfather died.<br>It is a tale my father tried<br>To fix inside my heart so deep<b...

New page
{{info}}Come, children, gather ‘round tonight,<br>And listen in the candlelight<br>To how your great grandfather died.<br>It is a tale my father tried<br>To fix inside my heart so deep<br>That children after me would keep<br>The story in their hearts and try<br>To live like him and like him die.<br>Come listen now. 

His Hebrew name<br>Was Simeon. His wife was lame<br>Until she died, five years before<br>The old man saw the baby King.<br>The kids were grown and everything<br>Was ready when the old man heard<br>Your great grandmother's final word.<br>My father heard it, too. She said,<br>"Dear Simeon, since we were wed,<br>Full sixty years of love to me<br>Have passed, and ripened you to see<br>What kings and righteous men of old<br>Have longed to see. The Lord foretold<br>A day of consolation here<br>In Zion when He would appear.<br>The Spirit testifies tonight<br>That you shall live and see the Light<br>Of all our dreams rise like the dawn<br>Of righteousness when I am gone."

"Does that mean, Daddy, she would die?"<br>Yes, she would die. Now listen why.

With love old Simeon leaned down<br>And gently stroked the silver crown<br>Of his dear wife, and softly said,<br>"The Spirit also says tonight<br>That you will see the dawning Light<br>Before it breaks on me. If I<br>Have ripened in my love, then why<br>I wonder, will God first pluck you,<br>Except that you have ripened, too?"<br>They smiled one of those knowing smiles<br>With sixty years and countless miles<br>Of secret ways and silent days.<br>My father said he saw the rays<br>Of heaven cross her face. And then<br>She died. "Were you there, Daddy, when<br>Greatgrandma died?" "No, son, your dad<br>Was just a twinkle in the glad<br>And hopeful eye of your grandma.<br>I wasn't born. But your grandpa<br>Remembered every word." "And then?"<br>Well, then old Simeon wondered when<br>The time would be of which she spoke."

The years went by. He'd sit and stoke<br>The fire at night and meditate<br>On holy prophecies 'til late.<br>And then he'd lie in bed and pray<br>That God would hasten soon the day<br>Of light. Five years, and then: it was<br>A quiet time at last, because<br>The Jewish pilgrims had gone home.<br>A month or so had passed since Rome<br>Took count of David's offspring in<br>Jerusalem. And now the din<br>Of all those days was very still,<br>And Simeon sensed, within, a thrill<br>That God was near. He lay awake<br>And waited for the Lord to take<br>His hand and lead him to the Light.

And then it happened. Late one night<br>He woke like Samuel to hear<br>A voice: "Wake, Simeon, don't fear.<br>Tomorrow you will see the Lord.<br>He will be meek—without a sword,<br>Without a spear, without a shield,<br>Or any army in the field.<br>Go early to the house of prayer,<br>And as you kneel and worship there,<br>Give praise for mercy to my name,<br>And I will manifest the same."

At dawn the old man knelt where he<br>Had prayed for years and now could see<br>The rich and poor draw near to give<br>Some sacrifice that they might live.<br>He looked at every worshipper,<br>And waited for his heart to stir<br>When the Messiah came to pray.<br>He thought, "It will be plain as day<br>When he walks through the temple gate."<br>"But, Daddy, Jesus couldn't..." Wait<br>A minute now! Did Simeon know?<br>It is a human trait to show<br>That we expect to find the best<br>Attended well, and finely dressed.<br>And even Simeon was stunned<br>That God, with all his strength, had shunned<br>The way of wealth, when God revealed:<br>‘It is the yonder child, concealed<br>Within the simple woolen shawl.'<br>Could Simeon believe that all<br>God ever promised lay asleep,<br>Like treasure bundled in a cheap<br>And tattered sling? Think on it now!<br>Would you believe that God somehow<br>Became a child? He did believe,<br>And lay the baby on his sleeve,<br>And trembling let the Spirit fill<br>His mouth. ‘Now by thy sovereign will,<br>O God of grace, let me depart,<br>And see more fully what thou art<br>In heaven with my precious wife,<br>And thee, in everlasting life.<br>For all thy word to me is done,<br>With love old Simeon leaned down<br>And I have seen the Promised One,<br>The great salvation thou hast made<br>For every people, every trade.<br>A light to guide the nations well,<br>And glory, too, for Israel.'"

And then he stopped. The parents were<br>Amazed. He set his eyes on her,<br>The young and pretty peasant girl,<br>And said, "This child is like a pearl,<br>Some men will forfeit everything<br>To have his love, while others cling<br>To worthless things and forfeit life.<br>He is a source of peace—and strife.<br>And many thoughts he will reveal<br>That men have thought they could conceal.<br>And you, most blessed woman too,<br>Will see what wicked men can do.<br>Your love to him will take its toll,<br>And like a sword will pierce your soul."

Then, speechless, Mary took the child<br>Again. The old man bowed and smiled<br>And disappeared. "What happened then?"<br>That evening grandpa found him when<br>He came from work. The fire was on,<br>The scroll unrolled, but he was gone.<br>His finger lay upon the line<br>That said, "A brilliant light will shine."

And now, my children, tell me this:<br>Do you believe that Jesus is<br>The fairest, brightest, strongest Light<br>That ever was or is tonight?

If so, then light this candle three<br>And sing a song of hope with me.