Проповедь на Сретение Господа и Бога и Спаса нашего Иисуса Христа

Before Christ, every person, by his personal actions, attracted reproach or praise from God. But at the same time, no one could defeat the general curse and condemnation - this bitter inheritance passed on from generation to generation. And then Christ came, the Liberator of our nature. He turned a universal curse into a universal blessing. He announced repentance, commanded Divine baptism, and gave us His Body and Blood. By these means Christ justifies and sanctifies each of us. By His condescension, perception and renewal of our nature, He returned us to obedience to the Heavenly Father. Today’s holiday also belongs to the works of salvation accomplished by Christ for our sake. Now Christ is brought to the old Jerusalem temple, where He is met by the God-receiver Simeon and the prophetess Anna. Fulfilling the Mosaic Law, the Most Pure Virgin Mary and Righteous Joseph came to the Jerusalem Temple to present the newborn Baby Jesus to God. This, too, was a matter of obedience and dedication, according to what is written in the law of the Lord: “Every male child who comes from his mother’s womb shall be dedicated to God” (Ex. 13:12; Luke 2:23). On the day of this dedication, the parents of the newborn boy were required to bring two turtle doves or two chicks of a dove to the church. This is what happened with Christ. Turtle doves symbolize the chastity of the parents, and the chicks clearly indicate the Virgin, who remained a Virgin forever, and the One born of Her. Elder Simeon, being a righteous and reverent man, received inspiration from the Holy Spirit and came out to meet Christ. Having kissed the heavenly and earthly Baby at the same time, Simeon, as if to God, brought Him a hymn and prayer. He asked Him to peacefully be released from the body, proclaiming to everyone that he had seen the One who is the saving Light, given for the fall of unbelievers and for the resurrection of believers. After this, Simeon turned to the Virgin and predicted to Her the sorrow that She would have to go through while standing at the Cross of Her Son. And the prophetess Anna, daughter of Phanuel, a widow, who was eighty-four years old and who did not leave the church, being in fasting and prayer, also enlightened by the Holy Spirit, thanked God and preached that liberation from Christ would be given to all people, of course, provided that the people themselves want to accept this liberation. The Holy Spirit sent such spiritual turtle doves - Simeon and Anna - to the Presentation, that is, to meet the Infant Christ, showing us an example of a chaste life. Therefore, flee from fornication, brothers! This passion pushes a person to all kinds of wickedness, of which there is a lot of evidence in Old Testament history. Moreover, a Christian, in order for the Holy Spirit to dwell in him, must live in inner purity, crucifying his flesh with passions and lusts. So we can all accept the saving blessings brought to us by Christ and be with Him forever in joy, which may we be worthy of through the intercession of His Ever-Virgin and All-Immaculate Mother, who virginally gave birth to Him for the sake of our salvation.