Meeting of the Lord

[Jude 1:1–10; Luke 22:39–42, 45–23:1] The Meeting of the Lord. At this meeting the Lord is surrounded on the one side by Sim­ eon — righteousness which awaits salvation, but not in righteousness itself, and Anna — a life of strict fasting and prayer, made alive by faith; and on the other side by sub­ stantial, comprehensive and stead­ fast purity — the Virgin Mother of God, and by humble, silent submis­ sion and devotion to the will of God —Joseph the Betrothed. Transfer all of these spiritual attitudes to your heart and you will meet the Lord; not carried to you, but coming to you Himself. You will take Him into the embrace of your heart, and you will sing a hymn which will pass throughout the heavens and glad­ den all the angels and saints.

Saint Theophan the Recluse