Today Mary and Joseph travelled to Jerusalem to present Jesus in the Temple. It was customary and the law that within 40 days after the birth of the firstborn son, the parents were to take the child to the Temple in Jerusalem and present him to the Lord. As soon as Mary was able to travel, she and Joseph set out for Jerusalem as the law required. It was a long journey for them, yet they wanted their new-born son to receive this sacred rite of purification.

A man named Simeon was in the temple the day that Mary, Joseph and Jesus arrived. For many years Simeon had spent much of his time in the Temple waiting for the “consolation of Israel.” When Simeon saw Mary, Joseph and the baby, he recognized Jesus as the One he had been waiting for! Simeon immediately went to them and took the baby, Jesus, into His arms. Simeon loudly praised God and gave thanks that he was blessed to see and hold “the Christ of the Lord” in his arms before he died. Simeon also prophesied that this tiny baby was destined for greatness.

On that day too, Anna the prophetess  was in the temple.  When she saw Mary, Joseph and Jesus she also came to them and prophesied that this tiny baby would bring about the redemption of Jerusalem.  How did  the other people in the Temple react to this prophecy? Did they believe what Anna and Simeon were saying? Or were they sceptical and non-believers?

Imagine if we had been there. How would we react to these happenings? Would we be  believers or would you be a sceptics? 

How would life be different for us, if we lived each day as if it were our last day? How would we spend that time?  

May we live each day fully and with thanksgiving and awareness!

​