圣诞节八日庆祝期第五日 路加福音　2:22-35

按梅瑟的法律，一满了他们取洁的日期，玛利亚和若瑟便带着孩子上耶路撒冷去献给上主，就如上主的法律上所记载的：“凡开胎首生的男性，应祝圣于上主。”并该照上主法律上所吩咐的，献上祭物：一对斑鸠或两只雏鸽。那时，在耶路撒冷有一个人，名叫西默盎。这人正义虔诚，期待着以色列的安慰，而且圣神也在他身上。他曾蒙圣神启示：自己在未看见上主的受傅者以前，决见不到死亡。他因圣神的感动，进了圣殿；那时，抱着婴孩耶稣的父母正进来，要按着法律的惯例为他行礼。西默盎就双臂接过他来，赞美天主说：“主啊！现在可照你的话，放你的仆人平安去了！因为我亲眼看见了你的救援，即你在万民之前早预备好的：为作启示异邦的光明，你百姓以色列的荣耀。”他的父亲和母亲就惊异他关于耶稣所说的这些话。西默盎祝福了他们，又向他的母亲玛利亚说：“看，这孩子已被立定，为使以色列中许多人跌倒和复起，并成为反对的记号——至于你，要有一把利剑刺透你的心灵——为叫许多人心中的思念显露出来。”

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 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 Messiah 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: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”