Luke 2:35Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As the light though it may annoy weak eyes, is still light; in like manner the Saviour endures, though many fall away, for His office is not to destroy; but their way is madness. Wherefore not only by the salvation of the good, but by the scattering of the wicked, is His power shewn. For the sun the brighter it shines, is the more trying to the weak sight.

She refers to the anguish of suffering or perhaps the trial that she experienced upon witnessing the Lord's crucifixion. It is possible she reflected on how He, who was executed, mocked, and born of a virgin, performed wonders and raised individuals from the dead. "Let the thoughts of many hearts be revealed." This indicates that the inner struggles of many who face temptation will be brought to light, and those who are chastised will discover a swift solution. For instance, you, O Virgin, will also be made known in your understanding of Christ, and in doing so, you will be firmly established in faith in Him. Similarly, Peter faced rejection, yet the Lord's power manifested and received him anew through repentance.

Simeon spoke to the Holy Virgin, foretelling that a sword would pierce her soul, likely referring to the profound sorrow she experienced as she witnessed the crucifixion of her Son. This anguish emerged from her perspective, not yet realizing that He would conquer death and rise again. It is not surprising that the Virgin remained unaware of this truth, considering that even the holy Apostles displayed doubt in similar circumstances. Blessed Thomas, for instance, did not believe until he personally examined the wounds of Christ, despite the other disciples affirming His resurrection and their encounters with Him (John 20:25).

He however might be called His father in that light in which he is rightly regarded as the husband of Mary, that is, not from any carnal connection, but by reason of the very bond of wedlock, a far closer relationship than that of adoption. For that Joseph was not to be called Christ’s father was not, because he had not begotten Him by cohabitation, since in truth he might be a father to one whom he had not begotten from his wife, but had adopted from another.

The sign which is spoken against is called in Scripture, the cross. For Moses, it says, made a brazen serpent, and placed it for a sign. (Numb. 21:8.)

Mark the nice distinction here observed. Salvation is said to be prepared before the face of all people, but the falling and raising is of many; for the Divine purpose was the salvation and sanctification of every one, whereas the falling and lifting up stands in the will of many, believers and unbelievers. But that those who were lying in unbelief should be raised up again is not unreasonable.

“The sword shall be removed” — for that sword which, due to Eve, protected paradise, was taken away through Mary. Or, “the sword shall be removed” — meaning, the denial. Yet the original Greek text clearly states: “let the intentions of many hearts be uncovered.” This refers to the intentions of those who hesitated in faith. They assert that Mary was astonished both at His birth and His conception, and she shared with others how she conceived and the reason for her giving birth. Some, in awe of her words, found strength; yet others remained in doubt.

Even in the account of Christ’s resurrection, St. Ephrem mistakenly identifies Mary, the Mother of the Lord, with Mary Magdalene.

Behold what abundant grace is extended to all men by the birth of the Lord, and how prophecy is withheld from the unbelievers, not from the righteous. Simeon also prophesies that Christ Jesus has come for the fall and rising again of many.

This esteemed figure, endowed with extraordinary gifts, experienced the anguish she eluded at birth while enduring the agony of her Son during His suffering. The maternal anguish tormented her heart, and her thoughts pierced her soul like a sword as she witnessed the death of Him who she had recognized as God through His incarnation, being treated as a criminal. This interpretation aligns with the profound meaning of the words and a sword shall pierce through your own soul (Luke 2:35), yet this profound sorrow is ultimately overcome by the joy of the Resurrection, which affirms that He who was crucified in the flesh is indeed God.

And to You, a weapon shall pierce Your soul. This weapon symbolizes the profound sorrow that pierced the heart of the Mother of God as her Son approached His Cross. It was this anguish that Simeon foretold: May the intentions of many hearts be uncovered. Some doubted whether she was indeed His Mother. For just as many, observing His human attributes, claimed He was merely a man, the Son of Mary, others, gazing upon His divine characteristics, suspected that He was solely God and that She was not truly His Mother. However, upon witnessing her deep suffering and immense grief, yielding to natural emotions, they came to believe She was indeed His Mother, revealing the doubts that had resided in their hearts.

Both by the angel and the multitude of the heavenly host, by the shepherds also, and Simeon.

To whom could it be more appropriate to dedicate a life full of unending joy than to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Savior, the Fountain and Giver of everlasting joy? Yet, Simeon prophesies that She will not experience happiness and delight, but rather deep sorrows that will pierce Her sacred soul like a sharp sword; indeed, a weapon of anguish will also pierce Your soul. Whose grief and affliction could rival the anguish of Her maternal heart as She stood at the foot of the Cross, witnessing the immense suffering and brutal death of Her Son? How then can we, as sinful beings marred by wrongdoing, voice our complaints when the benevolent hand of God allows us to encounter trials and adversities for the redemption of our souls?

The knowledge of supernatural things, as often as it is brought to the recollection, renews the miracle in the mind, and hence it is said, His father and mother marvelled at those things which were said of him.

And thus, such a profound mystery faces contradiction, leading to confusion in your heart. Consider this: when you witness Your Son affixed to the Cross, O Most Pure One, and recall the angel's message, the Divine conception, and the unfathomable wonders, your spirit will surely be troubled, and it will feel like a sword piercing your soul as you contemplate the Savior's anguish. Yet, He shall shortly bring swift healing to your heart and unyielding peace to His disciples, the One who loves humanity above all.

Joseph is called the father of the Saviour, not because he was (as the Photinians say) His real father, but because from regard to the reputation of Mary, all men considered him so.

To the Virgin, the Mother of the Child, a prophetic revelation was made, indicating that through the sorrow She would endure at the Cross of Her Son, She would particularly embody the true Mother in relation to the incarnate God-man Child. This would unveil the wavering thoughts of hearts regarding these matters. For Simeon eloquently testified that, due to the anguish stemming from the sufferings of the Son, coupled with profound sorrow and compassion, She is indeed the genuine, beloved Mother of this wondrous Son.

Who on this earth can approach the patient long-suffering of the Lord in suffering, except His All-Holy Mother? The Elder Symeon, adorned with age like a white swan, foresaw as a prophet her future suffering and compared this suffering to a sword in her soul.

As Simeon returns the Child Jesus to the astonished Mother of God, he is inspired by prophecy and glimpses the future: he perceives the bitterness that the Jews will harbor towards the Messiah sent for their salvation. He hears the arguments and discord between His disciples and adversaries, recognizing that these disputes will reveal the true nature of hearts—some filled with love for the truth, and others hardened by malice. Some will find elevation in the Kingdom of Glory, while others will face rejection (for behold, this is the fall and rebellion of many in Israel).

Joseph and Mary were filled with wonder at all they heard. Simeon, speaking to them, offered a blessing and spoke meaningful words to the Virgin, the full significance of which she would grasp only later: “Look,” he said, indicating the Child, “this one is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that will be opposed; and a sword will pierce your own soul as well, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

"And to You also a sword shall pierce": this metaphorical language continues. In the struggle between doubt and faith for the banner of the contested one, the heart of the Mother of the Savior will not escape harm; rather, a sword will pierce her as well. "The sword represents the cruel and piercing sorrow that penetrated the heart of the Mother of God when her Son was crucified" (Euth. Zigab., cf. Theophil.). "Let the thoughts be made known": the hidden, concealed musings of faith or doubt become evident especially in the face of the sufferings and seemingly malevolent death of Jesus Christ. For some, the cross of Christ is a stumbling block; for others, foolishness, but for the chosen believers, it is undeniably a revelation of the greatest divine power and wisdom (1 Cor. 1:23-24).