This is another Biblical story I learned through the Lutheran liturgy even before
I could read. We sang the “Nunc Dimittis”
(Latin for “Now Dismiss”) after communion (once a month in those days). Of
course the most important thing about "Now Dismiss" was to be dismissed from the church service which was all the salvation I was waiting to see. Even so it was
a story that captured my imagination. In my mind Simeon was an old man waiting
his whole life for this moment and he died as soon as the song left his lips. But
it wasn’t a sad story to me. He got what he wanted. Dismissed in peace having
seen what he longed for as his life came to the hoped for conclusion. I am not
so sure I know what I hope to be the conclusion of my life and finding myself
in the difficult just past the “middle years” I can’t imagine my passing at
this point would look anything like peace. But then Simeon’s ending is Jesus’
beginning and Jesus’ ending will turn out to be the beginning for Simeon. Maybe
that is why he could depart in peace and we will as well, no matter when our last
song is sung.
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