The Wednesday within the Octave of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord
Posted on December 31, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 2:25-32 (NKJV)
2:25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word;
30 “For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 “Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 “a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
Devotion
Simeon had waited his whole life for this hour. The Holy Ghost had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Guided by the Spirit, he comes to the temple as the Child is brought in. Taking the infant in his arms, he blesses God: “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.”
The old man sees with faith what the world overlooks. The salvation of Israel is no longer a distant promise but a living reality, wrapped in the weakness of flesh. The Light to lighten the Gentiles is small enough to rest in trembling hands. The glory of Israel lies not in power or empires, but in this Child who will bear sin and conquer death. Simeon’s song, the Nunc Dimittis, becomes the Church’s hymn of peace—the confession of all who depart this life trusting in Christ.
As one year ends and another begins, we join Simeon’s praise. Our eyes, too, have seen His salvation—not by sight, but by faith, in the Word and Sacraments. We may face the new year with peace, for the same Christ who came to Simeon comes to us in His Means of Grace.
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure, that in the Name of Thy beloved Son, we may be made to abound in good works; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the new Birth of Thine Only-Begotten Son in the flesh may set us free who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
