The mother carries the child in her arms to the temple. He is the Messiah, her God. But her relationship with him has changed. During her pregnancy, she carried him within her and gave him everything she had. Now, having given birth to the Son, she feels alone, almost abandoned. Previously, her mission was indistinguishable from his. Now the child's mission has become independent: he begins to go his own way. (…)
Thus she approaches Simeon. The old man accepts her and the child, recognizing her and the child in the Holy Spirit, comparing the mission of the Son and the Mother and seeing a new bond between them. With his gaze and his blessing, he helps to establish this bond anew and more irrevocably. … He sees the future path of the Son. He also sees the difficulties that will arise for true believers, as God will no longer be a remote noble being in a distant heaven, but a child, a human being, suffering among them. The mutual relationships of people will completely change, distance and closeness will be determined differently. … From now on, when we establish a substantial or insignificant relationship with another person, we will never know if we are already dealing with the Son of God, whether we have touched or perhaps injured something eternal in that person, or despised something eternal. For now, God becomes frighteningly close and all that is human is placed in immediate light to enlighten the Gentiles. By seeing this, Simeon also understands that mediation will be necessary between the Lord and the people, and that this role can only belong to the Mother. She will set the measure for distance and closeness. In this, Simeon sees the continuation of her mission.
(Adrienne von Speyr /1902–1967/, Servant of the Lord)
