Catechesis Notes for the Week — Let Your Servant Depart in Peace —“Simeon is old, sees death before him, yes, he feels death in his very bones, in every limb, as death approaches day by day, and daily he grows weaker after the manner of old people.  But it does not grieve him. He desires only that it be soon, says that he is not frightened by his departing, yes, that death is welcome to him, since his eyes have seen his Savior. For were this not so, there could be no joy, nor could there be happiness in dying. Therefore the godly Simeon wanted to warn every man and to lead us thither (because we must all confess that we need a Savior), that we should accept Christ Jesus, whom our fancy has not created but whom God Himself has ordained.  For with His help we cannot fail.  For this reason alone the Child is come.  God, His heavenly Father, has prepared Him for us, that He shall help us. And, of a truth, if any man possesses this Savior, who is God’s Savior, that man is still and peaceful in his heart…It all depends on this, that we with the dear old Simeon open our eyes and see the Babe, take Him into our arms, and kiss Him, which means, that He is our hope, joy, comfort, and our life.  For where this faith is firm and sure in our hearts, that this Child is God’s Savior, there, of a truth, it must follow that the heart is content and is not afraid of sin or death, for it has a Savior who delivers it from them.” Martin LutherCP241229