Culham College: This is Christmas

9 Readings for a Christmas Act of Worship: 9th Reading

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, a good-living man, a man of prayer, who was waiting eagerly for Messiah to come and set things right for Israel, and the Holy Spirit was very close to him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had first seen the Lord's Messiah. Prompted by the Spirit, he came to the temple at the very time when Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus for dedication as a first-born male child, in the way prescribed by Jewish law.

Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying,

'Master,
now the waiting is over for your servant,
now you are keeping your promise
and setting me free to go in peace;
for I have seen with my own eyes
the child who is
your way to restore mankind.
You made no secret of your preparations,
anyone might have known this day would come;
but now even the godless nations
will see the light -
and as for your people Israel...
what glory!'

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother,

'It is the destiny of this child
to bring down and raise up
many in Israel;
to be a living symbol
which many people will reject
(a sword will pierce your own heart also)
- but their rejection of him
will lay bare the hidden truth
about themselves.'

Luke 2:23-35

1st Reading (based on Genesis 3:8-19)
2nd Reading (based on Isaiah 7:10-17)
3rd Reading (based on Isaiah 9:2-7)
4th Reading (based on Luke 1:46-55)
5th Reading (based on Luke 1:68-79)
6th Reading (based on Luke 2:1-7)
7th Reading (based on Luke 2:8-20)
8th Reading (based on Matthew 2:1-12)
9th Reading (based on Luke 2:23-35)
Alternative 9th Reading (based on John 1:1-18)