FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
By Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
Today, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord, the moment when the forty-day-old baby Jesus was brought to the temple by His mother, Mary, and Joseph. They came to fulfill the law, to offer a sacrifice, to do what was expected. But what seemed like an ordinary ritual became an extraordinary revelation!
Because in that temple, there were two people who had been waiting, watching, believing. Simeon, a devout man, and Anna, a prophetess—two people who refused to give up, who held onto hope when it seemed like nothing was changing. And on that day, their faith was rewarded!
Simeon had been waiting for the Messiah. He had been promised that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Anointed. And when Mary and Joseph walked in with that little baby, he saw light breaking through the darkness. He took Jesus in his arms and said, “Now, Lord, let your servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation!” (Luke 2:30).
Can you imagine the faith that took? Every day, he walked into that temple, looking, expecting, trusting. And yet, for years, nothing changed. Some of you are in a season of waiting. You’ve been praying, believing, standing in faith, but you haven’t seen the breakthrough. The promise still feels distant. The answer still hasn’t come. But just because you haven’t seen it yet doesn’t mean it’s not on the way!
Simeon and Anna remind us that God rewards those who keep believing! He sees your faithfulness, He hears your prayers, and He knows the desires of your heart. You may feel like nothing is changing, but behind the scenes, God is working things out in your favor. The breakthrough you’ve been waiting for, the answer to your prayer, the moment of revelation is closer than you think!
Like Simeon, like Anna—don’t give up! Keep standing, keep worshiping, keep expecting. Because one day, you’re going to walk into your promise, you’re going to stand in awe and say, just like Simeon: “Now, Lord, let Your servant go in peace, for my eyes have seen Your salvation!”
Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
February 14, 2025
