When the "Literal-ness" of Simeon's Song Actually Happens
Coming from the Baptist church, the Divine Liturgy was one of the strangest things I’d experienced in my life. I didn’t understand much of the language, and I didn’t know why everyone had their hymnals open but never looked down as they sang and spoke! One thing I did know, however, is that when we sang that “Nunc” song, we were about to go to lunch. After all, we sang about “departing in peace!”
At the time I didn’t understand what we were singing mostly because I didn’t understand the biblical context of Simeon’s song. When it was taught to me, I realized the weight of what we were confessing as we sang. We weren’t singing about leaving to go to lunch in peace. We were singing about departing this life in peace! We, like Simeon, had seen the salvation that God had prepared through the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We could literally die in that moment because we, too, had seen God’s promise fulfilled.
It’s one thing to sing Simeon’s song confidently. It’s another when God seems listen and to take them at their word!
One of the saints here at St. Paul’s recently had some significant health issues. Hs heart was failing, and the doctors told him that one more “heart event” would be the end for him. They sent him home on cardiac hospice to wait for such an “event.” Would you believe it that this man was so determined to be in the presence of his Lord that he had his family get him out of the hospice bed and bring him to the Divine Service? This went on for the last three weeks.
This past Sunday after communing the saints at the rail, I made my way to the back corner of the nave where he sat in his wheelchair. He ate and drank the body and blood of His Lord. I went back to the altar. The congregation stood as they always do and joined in Simeon’s song. Little did I know, though, that God would take seriously his confession. No sooner than this brother in Christ returned home did he fall asleep in Jesus, and in His presence he remains at this hour. (Additionally so fitting is that we sang “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart” as a hymn during distribution!)
In my nine short years in the Office, I’ve laid to rest around 120 saints. When those are nearing death and the Pastor is called, he will do a rite that is called “The Commendation of the Dying.” He reads once more the crucifixion of our Lord, His resurrection, and about the saints “clothed in white” from Revelation 7 among other texts. Once more before dying, those in Christ hear of the work of our Lord on their behalf. And after having heard of their salvation, Simeon’s song is sung.
I have had several other people fall asleep within hours—some even minutes— of the Commendation of the Dying concluding. On one specific occasion, a sister in Christ was lying in her bed while the Nunc Dimittis was being sung. I began: “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word…” As soon as I finished singing “according to Thy Word,” I heard the sound of air going out. No breath was taken again. I looked up at the family who were gathered with eyes wide open and did all I knew to do…kept singing. Her eyes had seen the salvation of God through Jesus Christ. She, too, remains in His presence at this hour.
Like Simeon and like this brother and sister, all of you have seen the salvation of our God. You do every time you hear the Word because He became flesh and made His dwelling among you (John 1:14). You do yet again as you gather at the altar of your God and receive the body and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Sing confidently, therefore, Simeon’s song and take heart that whether you live or die, you are the Lord’s (Romans 14:8).