from Chapter 20, Joseph's Boy:
"People around the courtyard
were stopping what they were doing to stare. An electric silence fell.
Simeon looked at Jesus as if he were drinking him in. Every detail. In time, he nodded to himself.
"I can die now; yes, I can go in peace. You're
releasing your servant, Sovereign Master. You've done
what you promised me, and let me see the consolation
of Israel – your Anointed One, your Christ."
Miriam turned to Jamie, her eyes round and wide.
"It's true," Jamie whispered.
"I just held him!" Miriam whispered back in awe. "I
held him in my arms!" as if she couldn't believe that her
small arms could possibly have contained the one who
had come from ancient times.
"I've seen your saving grace!" Simeon went on. He lifted Jesus high and the people on all sides drifted closer, gazing at the baby as if drawn to
him. "The salvation you have prepared, now seen by
all! A light to reveal truth and guide the way for the
Gentiles. A light of glory for your people, Israel."
He paused a moment, as if sensing new things, and
looked into Mary's face in the same hungry way,
drinking from deep in her eyes,
and a troubled expression crossed his faded features.
"And a sword will pierce your own soul, too."
Mary and Simeon stared at each other, an unspoken sorrow
reflecting back and forth between them in deepening
waves which neither of them could understand.
There was a flurry near the gate that led to the Court
of Women, as Anna swept through, driven by the same fire. A
murmur went around; she hadn't been seen in the outer
court for many years!
Simeon handed the baby to her, and she also
marvelled at what she was holding in her frail, human
hands – too overcome to speak at first, then quickly too
overcome not to speak.
"He will break every chain and proclaim freedom for
captives. He will buy us back from our enemy. From
the greatest enemy of all! Our accuser will fall silent.
On the day when this child is lifted up for all to see,
Death itself will die"
#Candlemas
from Joseph's Boy
(For any #RE teachers or primary schools intending to cover the story of baby Jesus being presented at the Temple, it's there in Joseph's Boy, for 8-12s 🕯️
Among many other things!)
#TheYoungTestament #KidsEyeViewOfJesus
#edusky #mg #kidlit #TeamRE #booksky
![Screenshot of message:
[Child's name] is looking forward to hearing all about Kat 🙂
My prediction is that, like me, she is going to find this the best of the books. We’re all a bit like Kat, I think...
❤️ thank you for meaning so much to our family. I feel, that like CS Lewis is to many households, LR Hay is to ours.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4cquodftvmo3lt7vinzw5dbc/bafkreicsiz3cwhsqomnp6jwpqhclmnxinp7jmerpmrnei6mid33hnfzv7y)
