Since Tuesday is the Feast of the Presentation (and the Purification), I thought I would share a hymn from the Byzantine rite for this day as my “Sunday-poem”.

Today Simeon takes in his arms the Lord of glory
whom Moses saw on Sinai, in a cloud,
when he received the Tablets of the Law.

This is He whom the prophets spoke!
This is the Author of the Law!
This is He whom David long foretold, saying:
he is fearful in all things
and yet is rich in mercy beyond measure!

He who rides upon the cherubim,
hymned in songs by seraphim,
is carried now in Mary’s arms–
God’s Virgin Mother from whom He was born.

Him, Lawgiver who fulfills
the mandate of His Law,
she gives unto the aged priest
Who, clasping Life, prays to be loosed from life,
saying:
Now, O Lord, dismiss me
that I may tell to Adam
how I have seen the changeless God,
who is before all ages,
become a little child,
and Savior of the world.