Two special residents of Jerusalem saw the Christ child and made some predictions about him and how his life would affect his parents and many other people.

Simeon, identified as a good, God-fearing man, lived for many years in hopes of seeing the Christ, of seeing Israel saved.  Despite assurances by the Holy Spirit, Simeon almost certainly struggled with doubts:  "Can I possibly live long enough to realize my hopes?"

Led by the Holy Spirit into the Temple, Simeon sees the Christ child.  Epiphany!  Hope becomes reality!  He embraces Jesus, recognizing him as the Christ, the one who will reveal God's will to the nations and bring glory to Israel.

Now for Simeon any struggle with doubt is gone.  He gives thanks to God.

Turning to Jesus' startled parents, Simeon blesses them and than to Mary speaks words that must have been very unsettling.  Yes, there is good news of salvation for many people in Israel:  their experience of epiphany.  But Simeon also warns that many people will oppose Jesus and his message, bringing destruction.  Further, Simeon predicts that Mary will be heart-broken, the victim of a great sorrow.

What does the story of Simeon teach me?  Our appointment in Japan was to Palmore Institute, an English language night school for young adult Japanese.  Palmore has provided its students both Engish language skills and Christian education since 1886. We found the work challenging and fulfilling.  But from the mid-1970s enrollment fell steadily because Japanese schools hired native speakers of English, making study at Palmore unnecessary.  Further, Palmore students living in an affluent culture did not attend worship services or Bible classes as earlier students had.  Our hopes of being Christian witnesses to hundreds of students were fading--so in 1987 we left Japan.

Living and working in Wisconsin has brought us new challenges, satisfactions and hopes. Charge, district, and conference activities have provided a renewal of our hope to be witnesses to Christ Jesus, to lead as many people as possible to an epiphany experience during a worship service, on a Volunteers in Mission team, in a local peace group, in an environmental preservation project, at a food pantry, in a jail ministry.

What does the story of Simeon teach you?  How did he keep faith through many years of waiting for a promised blessing, an encounter with the history-changing Christ? How can all of us anticipate and experience epiphany almost 2000 years after the time of Simeon?