“Can We As God’s Servants Be Dismissed in Peace 我們作為神的僕人能平平安安地得蒙釋放離去嗎？“（Luke 路加福音2:25-35）
… Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel … revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. … When the parents brought in the child Jesus … Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’ … Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
… 西面，這人公義虔誠，一向期待以色列的安慰者來到 … 聖靈啟示他，在死前必得見主所應許的基督 … 那時，耶穌的父母抱著孩子進來 … 西面就把他接到手上，稱頌神說：“主啊，現在照你的話，釋放僕人平平安安地去吧！因我的眼睛已經看見你的救恩，就是你在萬民面前所預備的，為要作外族人啟示的光，和你民以色列的榮耀。”… 西面給他們祝福，對他母親馬利亞說：“看哪！這孩子被立，要叫以色列中許多人跌倒，許多人興起，又要成為反對的目標，（你自己的心也會被刀刺透，）這樣，許多人心中的意念就要被揭露出來。”
Regarding the Messiah’s coming, Simeon might have known the news of John the Baptist’s birth and its meaning as well as the report of the temple-flock shepherds who witnessed among the temple’s people what happened on that night when Jesus was born. Yet he was a man who knew how to be led by the Holy Spirit, both in hearing God’s promise to him and being prompted to go to the temple at the right time. It was as if he was commanded by God to keep a lonely watch through the night until he saw Jesus’ coming as God’s sunrise so that he could be relieved of his watch. The amazing thing about his prophecy is that Jesus’ salvation began with Israel but was always to be extended for the Gentiles. Mothering the Messiah was both a great privilege and a great burden. ‘The falling and rising of many’ would be shown in the way that Peter repented but Judas despaired; in that one thief blasphemed, the other believed. Lord Jesus would be the attacking target of great evil and Mary would agonize over His rejection and suffering.
有關彌賽亞的降臨，西面或許已知道施洗約翰誕生的消息及其意義，與及看管聖殿羊群的牧人的報告，在聖殿裡的人中間見証在耶穌誕生的那晚上所發生的事。然而，他是一個曉得如何被聖靈引導的人，既聽見神對他的應許，又在適當的時候受聖靈感動進入聖殿。這就好像神吩咐西面徹夜地獨自守望，直到他看見耶穌如神之日出的來到，好使他可以得卸除自己的守望。有關他預言的奇妙之處，就是耶穌的救恩從以色列開始，但總是要擴展到給予外邦人。成為彌賽亞的母親既是極大的榮幸，但也是沉重的擔子。「叫許多人跌倒，許多人興起」這一點可從彼得悔改而猶大卻絕望中看到；一個強盜說褻瀆的話，另一個卻相信。主耶穌會是莫大邪惡攻擊的目標，而馬利亞在祂被人棄絕和忍受苦難上會是痛苦的。
Prayer: Father God, thank you for the faithful example of Simeon who was truly living by your words and by the Holy Spirit. He deserved to have the peace of seeing God’s promise fulfilled in his life. His prophecy was filled with love for his Saviour whom he hardly knew. We who know so much more about Christ should love Him even more. Indeed it is a combination of joy and surprise to see how you have touched people’s hearts with an understanding of Jesus Christ. Amen.
禱告: 父神啊，感謝你西面忠誠的榜樣，他是真正在你的話語和聖靈裡行事為人的，他配得那在今生看見神的應許應驗了的平安。他的預言充滿了自己對幾乎認識不多的救主的愛；我們這些對基督有更多認識的人理應要愛祂更多。可以看見你如何感動了人心，使他們認識耶穌基督時，確實是多麼的驚喜交織。阿們。
