Mary and Joseph come to present Jesus in the temple. The parents of Jesus were fulfilling the Law, dedicating their son to God. There was, however, an important difference. They did not ‘redeem’ their son, as the law laid down, they ‘presented’ him to God.
At the Presentation in the Temple, Mary and Joseph made the offering of the poor; two pigeons instead of the lamb which was the offering of the better-off. It is here that they meet Simeon and Anna. Simeon is one of the ‘quiet in the Land’, Jews who awaited God’s coming to his people in a spirit of prayer and quiet watchfulness, rather than the expectation of a triumphant warlord.

Simeon, who was righteous and devout man came into the Temple, guided by the Spirit. It had been revealed to him by the Spirit that he would see the Lord’s Messiah before his death. He was an old man but one who looked forward to a new era. Attuned to the Holy Spirit, he identifies Jesus from the many children who came up to Jerusalem. Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God. Simeon sings his song of farewell after a lifetime of watching for the sign of God salvation. All his dreams were now fulfilled and as a servant he was content to go in peace.