“Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.

This man was righteous and devout,

awaiting the consolation of Israel,

and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit

that he should not see death

before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. 

He came in the Spirit into the temple;

and when the parents brought in the child Jesus

to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,

he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:”

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord commemorates the event where Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem according to the Law of Moses for his ritual redemption, the ritual purification of Mary, and the encounter with Simeon and Anna. In the Gospel reading, we hear the brief canticle of Simeon in response to his encounter with the baby Jesus, 40 days after his birth. For priests and religious (and other lay people) who pray the Liturgy of the Hours daily, every night his canticle forms part of the prayer. Since I first learned night prayer in seminary, it has been one of my favorite. The sequence of prayers from the responsory to the final blessing remains meaningful to me each day. It goes like this:

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.

I commend my spirit.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

(Canticle of Simeon)

Lord, + now you let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled:

my own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

a light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

Lord, we have celebrated today the mystery of the rising of Christ to new life.

May we now rest in your peace, safe from all that could harm us,

and rise refreshed and joyful, to praise you throughout another day.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. Amen.