Luc. 2, 33-40.
And his father and mother marveled at the things spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this man is set for a fall and a rising of many in Israel, and for a sign to be contradicted. (And a sword shall pierce through your soul) that the thoughts of many hearts may be made manifest. And there was a prophetess, Hannah, the daughter of Phanuel, of the family of Asher, who was well bedded, and had lived seven years with her husband, after her virginity, and was now a widow of eighty-four years, who never came out of the temple, serving God with fasting and prayer day and night. She also came at that hour and praised the Lord and spoke of Him to all who were waiting for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had finished all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their city Nazareth. But the child grew and became strong in spirit, full of wisdom, and God's grace was with him.
The evangelist says that his father and mother were amazed at the things said about this child. He calls Joseph a father of Christ, therefore: he wants to describe the history, how it was regarded, called and respected before the people. That wants to have the history and description. When they heard that such things
*The first two printings, which we follow, appeared in 1524.
D. Red.
The angels and the shepherds told about the child before, and here about this Simeon: all this astonished the heart of the virgin. It was also to be wondered at, because this virgin and Joseph were despised by the people and considered nothing, and it was not believable that such a child should come from her. But if it had been said of a priest's or a great prince's child, it would not have been so strange.
(2) After this it was wonderful to her that Simeon took the child in his arms and spoke such great words about him: that he was a savior or a salvation of God, and a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and an honor to the people of Israel. She was truly astonished at these things; for the virgin must be left a man, that she did not know and understand all things. This work was as far from her senses and understanding as it was from other people's; but even though it was truly strange to her, she did not doubt that everything she heard about the child was true. So we must also follow her faith etc.
I have said that the name of the child is called Wonderful. So he says in the gospel Matth. 17, 20. about a mustard seed, which is a small little thing and yet becomes so big. This is the miracle of which we speak here. And so it must also happen to us that we are esteemed as nothing in the eyes of men and in our own eyes and are completely despised: when this has happened, one becomes great in the sight of God.
This is the first part, which teaches us not to despair when things go badly for us, when the whole world promises us and spurns us, so that we do not think that God has turned his eyes away from us. For it must be strange, so that no reason can understand it. It is strange that under death there is life, under foolishness there is wisdom. Therefore we must strengthen ourselves and take courage, if it will lead us again. So David says in the Psalter Ps. 4, 4: Mirificavit Dominus sanctum suum: sive ut alii vertunt, separavit: "He has set his saints in a special place." For it is a great wonder that this child, from a poor and abandoned maid, should become a king of the world; it does not compute well. And this astonishment is brought about by faith; for he who does not believe does not know or understand, and he who does not understand cannot be astonished at the great miracle etc.
5 The evangelist further says that Simeon gave both Mariam and Joseph, that is, he wished them well.
and preached them blessed. This must also remain so that our Lord God thus comforts those who are to be destroyed, with whom things are to go so strangely. It is necessary that he strengthens them, so that they do not despair.
006 Now he saith of the child unto the mother, that it is appointed that many men should be offended at it. This is a terrible word of the prophet, and does not concern bad, little people; for because the child is so small, it is not possible that reason will not be offended by it. Because it lies in poverty, misery and wretchedness, it may not be with the great Hansen. Therefore the thoughts of many hearts must be revealed in this child. Evil men and the lowly see that they are not good, and their hearts are easily revealed, for everyone sees them. But the great seeming saints are not known, they are thought to be the most holy men, and yet they are not; therefore it is necessary that their hearts and thoughts be revealed when Christ comes.
Therefore the evangelist says: The thoughts of "many" hearts shall be made manifest, but not of "all". The thoughts and hearts of Christ and of his people are manifest in every man: for he walketh in simplicity, that every man may see the state of his heart and mind: but in the common multitude it is not so. So Christ and his multitude do not stumble against them, but they stumble against Christ. This saying is made clear by the example of Stephen in Acts chapter 7, when we heard how the great priests and rulers of the city of Jerusalem resisted Stephen and had him stoned, because he wanted to make them sinners, saying, "They have all resisted the Holy Spirit and killed the Son of God.
8. Christ's and the gospel's habit is to bring everyone to ruin, as he himself has been brought to ruin. Now when he attacks these pious people and says that their piety is nothing, they do not like it; so all their piety falls away, and let everyone see what thoughts they have in their hearts. There one sees that they are all bloody hearts, and thirst for the blood and life of the fundamentally pious people. So must
The child, and all that is attached to him, will be despised, even the truth itself. The great cannot suffer the small; and yet, which are the most pious, are the most fearful, the most spiritual are the most carnal, as now and then are pope, bishops and priests: therefore the gospel is not hard, if we look at ourselves. The pious suffer, the wicked do not suffer.
(9) It says, first of all, of the three kinds of people who live in all places on earth: the first fall, the second rise, the third speak against.
(10) The first are those who are offended at the truth, and depart from it, and let it go, turning back nothing to it.
11. the others, who say in their hearts, like Daniel and his companions: Omnia, quae fecisti nobis, Domine, in recto judicio fecisti: "All that you have done to us has been done by you in right judgment" etc.; and when Job said Cap. 1, 21: Dominus dedit, Dominus abstulit, sit nomen Domini etc.: "God has given, so he has taken away, his name be given." They are not offended by the truth, but improve on it and praise God, and become more pious than before. There goes patience, praise and glory to God the Lord.
(12) The third are the great men, who oppose it by force, with cunning and artifice, how they may subdue the truth; not having enough of it to offend them, they would gladly thrust the truth altogether to the ground and crush it, that the whole world might fall upon it. These do two kinds of sin: that they strive against it, and that they do not want to do wrong with it and be sinners. This is where the Scripture goes most against them; this is where the goat is in the thorns. The Scriptures and the Gospel can easily deal with open and gross sinners, as Christ had to deal with sinners, Matth. 9, 11. ff.; but with the great saints he could not come to an agreement. Exemplum: He scolded
and called them lupos rapaces (ravening wolves) etc., Matth. 7, 15.
013 Now no man can stand up against the Lord Christ, for he is to be thrust down, punished, oppressed, and brought to nought. Let no man take away the truth: but this is the truth which I say, that we are nothing. But the truth that is written in human books, especially in spiritual law, is false and fabricated. Over the right divine truth each one must die, si Deo placuerit (if it pleases God), and put his neck to it: that we are nothing, as Christ became nothing.
14 Now follows, as Simeon says to the virgin, "A sword of pain will pass through your own soul. When the virgin saw that her child had been so innocently condemned by force, and that so great an injustice had been done to him, her heart and all her strength ached. This also happens in all Christian hearts: when they see that the truth is pushed down and they cannot resist, it goes through their soul, nothing remains but the complaint of violence, and the crowd stands on that side. This is the sword, since here the prophet prophesies. This sword has gone when Christ is persecuted, especially in the time of torture. Now it no longer works. We have invented other swords, and preached of seven swords which the Virgin Mary bore, and nothing but idolatry has come of it.
15 Now to the conclusion. As we have heard how Simeon waited for him who was to bring comfort and joy to the people of Israel; as afterward the apostles waited for his resurrection: so must we also cry and cry out that he may come, help and comfort us, and cause the last day to come quickly, that we may be delivered from the power of the devil and from the persecutor of the truth, amen.