15
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us."
16
They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
17
Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.
18
All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
19
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.
20
The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!
21
When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.
22
Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God
23
as commanded in God's Law: "Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God,"
24
and also to sacrifice the "pair of doves or two young pigeons" prescribed in God's Law.
25
In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him.
26
The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died.
27
Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law,
28
Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God:
29
God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised.
30
With my own eyes I've seen your salvation;
31
it's now out in the open for everyone to see:
32
A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel.
33
Jesus' father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words.
34
Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother, This child marks both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, A figure misunderstood and contradicted -
35
the pain of a sword-thrust through you - But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are.