Mine Eyes Have Seen
We see only what we can see. Everybody’s sight differs a little. Often prescription glasses can get people seeing pretty clearly if a correction is needed. The other variance we have is to note where our attention is focused. If we are not looking at the same thing won’t see the same thing. We could be standing together at the same vista, and you might say, “Wow, just look at that! I might reply, “I know, I have never seen such a lush forest.” Then you could reply, “Well, yes but I was noticing the clouds and all their color.”
Wednesday, February 2 is a Christian Holy Day, a Feast of our Lord, called “The Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple.” It holds up to our notice the occasion recorded in Luke, chapter two. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple to fulfill the obligation of the Law of Moses. The firstborn male was to be designated to the Lord. A man called Simeon came into the temple at the same time. He was powerfully devout, looking for the fulfillment of the promised Messiah. He discerned the Holy Spirit's communication with him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. The Spirit guided him to go up to the temple on the very day that Joseph and Mary were bringing Jesus. When Simeon saw the child, he took him into his arms and praised God, saying,
Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.
It must have been the eyes of his heart that helped him see salvation when he looked upon Jesus. The Spirit was strong with this one. The Latin words in the first line of this “Song of Simeon” are Nunc dimittis, “Now you dismiss” This is what we call this Canticle used in Morning Prayer and even more often for Evening Prayer in our tradition. This is how it sounds in the traditional rite:
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, *
according to thy word;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, *
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
We will celebrate this Feast in the Chapel at 6:00 P.M. Wednesday, February 2. It is a Feast often called, in England, Candlemas, because candles are sometimes carried, candles on hand for use in the church through the year are blessed.
Another good reason to contemplate the experience of Simeon is tied to the scriptures appointed for Sunday: have examples of human encounters with divine mystery. Isaiah the prophet. Peter, the fisherman, and Saul, persecutor Jesus’s followers, all come to encounter the Holy, to see their salvation. Their eyes are the vehicles through which they behold the Holy Other, the majesty of God, the source of Salvation. We can ponder their experiences as the week progresses.
For now, let us give thanks for this remarkable man of Jerusalem, Simeon, assured in his prayer life that he would see the Lord’s Messiah. It happened, and he rejoiced. He was free to depart from this life in peace, because God was faithful, granting him the wonder of laying eyes upon Jesus, the Savior of the world.
What about your eyes, and your eyes of faith? It may already have been encountered in your experience, and more may be on the way bringing you further fulfillment. You will be saying to God, in your own way of speaking, “Mine eyes have seen thy salvation”. It won’t have to be identical to Isaiah’s vision of the Lord in the temple with the Seraphs singing “Holy, holy, holy, Lord.” It won’t have to be like Peter’s awestriking encounter of Jesus when the nets were nearly breaking with a load of fish. It won’t likely be like Saul’s blinding conversion on the road to Damascus, giving birth to his adventure under his Greek name, Paul, apostle to the Gentiles. Yours will be yours. Your eyes will behold the Savior in the way, perfect for you. The Holy reaches you in your ordinary dailiness and makes you holy. Your eyes shall see the Glory.