Simeon waited patiently for many years in the solitude and silence of the Temple. Finally, he sees what he has been waiting for as he embraces the child Jesus and rejoices in his knowledge of God’s fidelity. In his faith and patience, Simeon was called in a special way to love God and to live as a disciple of Christ.
We are called to put our trust and confidence in God just as Simeon did in fidelity. It was in this trust and confidence that called Simeon to wait patiently until he could be in the presence of the Christ. As we hear about Simeon in today’s Gospel, we celebrate a saint today who was called to stand up for his faith in his own particular way. Yesterday, we honored the Holy Innocents, the children who were martyred by King Herod when he felt threatened by the birth of Jesus. Today, we honor Thomas Beckett, also a martyr in the faith. Beckett was chancellor and trusted friend to King Henry II in 12th century England. The king appointed him as Archbishop of Canterbury. Despite his loyalty and friendship with the king, Beckett stood firm when King Henry tried to overtake Church authority through the Constitutions of Clarendon, which would have denied the clergy the right of trial by a Church court and would have prevented them from making direct appeal to Rome. Thomas fled to France for safety when the king threatened him, remaining in exile there for 7 years. He returned to England even though he knew it would mean certain death for him. Four of the king's knights murdered Thomas Beckett in the Canterbury Cathedral shortly after his return. The king saw Thomas Beckett as a “troublesome priest.” Yet, even in our modern world, we admire the courage of Thomas Beckett and his willingness to sacrifice for the faith. May we take courage from the patience of Simeon and the steadfastness of Thomas Beckett.
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