Blog:"(and you yourself a sword will pierce)": an Easter reflection
Blog post: April 2, 2024 by Michael
At The Presentation in the Temple (Luke Ch. 2), the Evangelist tells us of Simeon's blessing of Mary and Joseph:
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
God speaks to us, St. Paul instructs us, "through his prophets in the holy scriptures" (1:2), but not always so plainly as Simeon to Mary:
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
Really? Well, yes.
Making sense of the "Senses of Scripture"
I work with my RCIA students on interpreting Scripture through the "Senses of Scripture," which teach us to approach text at various levels, starting with the literal words.
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
Literally. And so, too, was her son literally pierced in the side -- inflicted after his death, but pierced literally in the chest.
Next, we are to look upon it allegorically: what's the larger idea? what does this represent? Then we are to consider the moral lesson, what is the right and wrong God wants us to discern between, which leads to the anagogical, which means where does it lead us?
| !Literal | Mary, as well as her child, will be pierced by a sword |
| Allegorical | The Mother will suffer with the son |
| Moral | Suffering is necessary |
| Anagogical | Be prepared, stay faithful |
*** draft in progress ***