Lk. 2:32. Light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.
This salvation is "a light for the enlightenment of the Gentiles," that is, for the enlightenment of the darkened Gentiles, "and for the glory... of Israel," for Christ is truly the glory of the people of Israel, because from them He shone forth, and the truly prudent find their greatness in this. So says Simeon. And it seems to me that to this Simeon the words of David are also fitting: "With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation" (Ps. 90:16).
Lk. 2:33. Joseph and His Mother marveled at the things which were spoken about Him.
Lk. 2:34. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His Mother: behold, this One is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel.
Simeon blessed them both, but directed his words to the true Mother, leaving aside the supposed father. "Behold," he says, "this Child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel"; "for the fall" of the unbelieving, and for the believing — "for the rising." Or in another sense: the Lord is set "for the fall" of the evil nestled in our souls, and "for the rising" of good; fornication falls, chastity rises. It can also be understood in yet another way: Christ "is set... for the fall" means: He Himself is to suffer and undergo death, and through His fall many are to rise. So after the words "for the fall," place a period, then begin: "And for the rising of many."
Lk. 2:34. and into a sign spoken against,
"The sign" is the cross, which to this day finds contradiction against itself, that is, it is not accepted by unbelievers. The Incarnation of the Lord is also called a sign, and a wondrous sign, since God became man and a Virgin became a Mother. And this sign, that is, the Incarnation of Christ, is contradicted. For some say the body is from heaven, others that it is phantasmal, and still others babble other nonsense.
Lk. 2:35. And a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, (Virgin) –
He calls the "weapon" perhaps the grief that occurred during the Passion, or perhaps the scandal that assailed Her upon seeing the Lord crucified. For She, perhaps, pondered how He Who was born without seed, worked miracles, and raised the dead, was crucified, put to death, and spat upon.
Lk. 2:35. Let the thoughts of many hearts be revealed.
This means that "the thoughts of many" who are scandalized "will be opened and revealed," and once exposed, they will find swift healing. For example, You too, O Virgin, will be opened and revealed in Your thinking about Christ, and then will be confirmed in faith in Him. Likewise, Peter was shown to have denied; but the power of God was revealed, having received him again through repentance. And in another sense: "the thoughts of many hearts" were opened when the betrayer was exposed and those who loved Him were revealed, such as, for example, Joseph, who came to Pilate, and the women who stood at the Cross.
Lk. 2:36. There was also Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who had reached a great old age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
Lk. 2:37. a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, serving God with fasting and prayer day and night.
Lk. 2:38. And she at that time, coming up, gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all who were waiting for redemption in Jerusalem.
The Evangelist dwells on the narrative about Anna, listing her father and tribe, so that we may know that he speaks the truth, since he invites, as it were, many witnesses who know her father and tribe. She, together with others, "praised the Lord," that is, thanked Him, and told everyone about the Lord, that He is the Savior and consolation of us who await redemption.
Lk. 2:39. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
After fulfilling everything, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. Bethlehem was also their city, but as a homeland, while Nazareth was their place of residence.
Lk. 2:40. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
Jesus "grew" in body. Although He could have attained the measure of manhood from the very womb, He would then have appeared to be a phantom; therefore He grows little by little. With age, the wisdom of God the Word was manifested. For He was not wise through progress in learning — away with such a thought! But since He revealed His innate wisdom little by little, it is said that He advanced and "grew strong in spirit" in proportion to His bodily growth. For if He had displayed all wisdom at His very earliest age, He would have appeared monstrous. But now, revealing Himself as much as possible in accordance with His age, He was fulfilling the dispensation, not receiving wisdom. For what could be more perfect than He who was perfect from the beginning? Yet He reveals His inherent wisdom little by little.
Lk. 2:41. Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover.
Lk. 2:42. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem as usual for the feast.
Lk. 2:43. And when the days of the feast were completed, as they were returning, the Boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His Mother did not notice it,
Lk. 2:44. But they supposed that He was going with others. And having gone a day's journey, they began to search for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
Jesus goes to Jerusalem together with His parents, in order to show in everything that He neither opposes God nor resists the requirements of the Law. When they had fulfilled the days, that is, the seven days of Passover, He "remained... in Jerusalem."
Lk. 2:45. And not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.