Christ is born, he is circumcised. In a like manner, the soul enters into the first days of the spiritual life, days of tenderness and caresses, and then enters into circumcision. However, the soul experiences this passively and not in action. It is God himself who subtracts a small part of what he himself had given the soul. O God! You are a wonderful father who circumcises all his infants! This is why on the day of circumcision the name is given to Jesus Christ. We see that the adorable name of Jesus is the name of salvation, which happens only in circumcision and the taking away of death and corruption from all creatures. Salvation needs this circumcision taking away death and corruption. This circumcision is something that must be done to enter into interior life. This is taken away from the creature so that our Savior imprints his character of salvation in our soul.
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” (Luke 2:22–24)
After the circumcision is accomplished, purification is necessary. It is strange that to reach consummation through this purification, it is necessary that the soul offers again the sacrifice of this divine infant, that is to say, after the soul has taken pains to find in his foundation this divine presence and to possess this, she is obliged to lose what is sensible and perceptible, and to make a sacrifice to the Lord our God, like the rest. O God! Everything should be presented, abandoned, and sacrificed to your will because God does not withhold any of himself from us.
As it says in scripture, all shall be designated as holy to the Lord, means that the soul passes through the circumcision and purification, which are the first movements of going to the foundation, the source of grace, and the soul must follow. If she is faithful to follow the grace of the foundation, she will live perfectly within the will of God. All the instincts that come from the foundation of the soul, which are the first movements of the heart, are called holy to the Lord because they all belong to him. The passions no longer rule the soul because the purification cleanses the soul and the soul is no longer in war with itself. Now movements from the foundation of the soul (which are the motions from the Holy Spirit which are in us) make us holy to the Lord. These motions are from God. Anything contrary and opposed to God are only superficial reflections.
God still wants the sacrifice of two turtledoves or two pigeons, to show that these are agreeable to God, if they are done in simplicity. God loves this simplicity and only in simplicity are they agreeable.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. (Luke 2:25–26)
When we look forward to the consolation of Israel, we never fail to receive consolation. This consolation is none other than Jesus Christ himself, who the soul desires to find. This is the consolation of interior souls, and they want only him. When a soul faithfully rests in a disposition of waiting, Jesus Christ never fails to manifest himself sooner or later.
The Holy Spirit rested on him. Simeon receives the revelation of Jesus Christ and says, “Now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation.” The knowledge of the life of the Word is finally given to him in this place with full power.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. Therefore he was filled with the knowledge that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. We may see Jesus Christ without death but one cannot possess this life of Jesus Christ without death. The scripture also promised that he would see the kingdom of Jesus Christ given and that of the demon destroyed and annihilated.
Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law. (Luke 2:27)
This passage proves the interior motion and how the true servants of God are faithful to follow the impressions of the Holy Spirit. It is certain that we must have a constant faithfulness to follow the divine motion and that the Holy Spirit never fails to move faithful souls. This is the spirit of the church that must let the Holy Spirit move it. But how do we know this motion? It is to know this as this holy man knew it. He discovered this because he was always looking forward and waiting. As he waited, he heard the movements that are subtle and delicate, that only people who wait in this disposition are able to discern. Furthermore, it was necessary that he had followed these movements up to this point. Without this, it would have been difficult to discover this moment because faithfulness to follow gives the experience. Waiting for the movement gives the discovery, because without this, we don’t know the delicate impression. God is there, as when Elijah discerned this. Scripture reads: Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, the Lord was not in the wind. Following this there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. Next came a fire but the Lord was not in the fire. After that came a still small voice and the Lord was there (1 Kings 19:11–12). Therefore, we see that the Lord is not found in the strong and impetuous movements. These movements can always be discerned and we do not need to wait for them. But we must apply ourselves and wait to perceive a gentle breeze. This is why the motion of the Spirit of God, which is peaceful, sweet, and tranquil, cannot be distinguished easily unless we are accustomed to know it.
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples.” (Luke 2:28–31)
In this moment Simeon became a prophet and apostle. He took the child Jesus in his arms, to place him in hearts. We carry Jesus for a longtime in our heart, before we carry him in our arms: this is why the bridegroom says to his spouse, Set me as a seal upon your heart, because it begins there, and as a seal upon your arm (Song of Solomon 8:6). We have Jesus Christ in our hearts for ourselves; but we carry Jesus Christ in our arms for others. That is to say, we also receive him in our hands, that we may carry him to other hearts.
When this good servant of God in his strength receives the divine infant, he has in this moment fulfilled the duties of his apostolate. He speaks, It is now, O Lord, that I possess a peace so unchanging, that nothing in the world is capable of altering it. I die in this peace, because I hope that you accomplish in me this word of peace that you give in truth to this infant. I hope also that my life will be ended, because my eyes have seen in others and proven in myself, the salvation that you have prepared for all, like me, who watch and follow the movement of your Holy Spirit. There is nothing more for me on this earth since I have accomplished your holy will and I am happy at the sight of your salvation that you have given to all who trust in you and watch for you. You have brought me joy and you are destined to be the Savior and give salvation to us in the presence of all people. All the people may follow his example, to be formed by his life, to reflect on him, and to see in him all the states of this life.
“A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:32)
The child Jesus Christ was a light for revelation for all the nations. Therefore, it was necessary that his light illuminate: he must shine light on the Gentile’s darkness of ignorance and their sins of the night. He brings light for those who do not yet have light. He also brings glory to your people Israel, that is to say, interior souls, who do not yet have the glory of the divine Savior. He is their salvation with all the glory of salvation. Where he is, there is no darkness and confusion. O Love! There is only true glory in you; you are our only glory. This is why David said that God was his glory. Paul says he is glorified in God, as if he said, “There is nothing in me to glorify. I find in God all my glory.”
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