31- THE ENCOUNTER OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE
		
		
		Now, Master, You can dismiss Your servant in peace; You 
		have fulfilled Your word. For m y eyes have witnessed Your
		saving deed , displayed for all peoples to see: A 
		revealing Light to the Gentiles, the Glory of Your people,
		Israel. (Lk. 2: 29-32) 
		
		
		This is the hymn which Simeon uttered when he received 
		the Child Jesus in his arms in the temple. He had been 
		promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death 
		until he beheld the "Anointed of the Lord." (Lk. 2: 26) 
		The Icon of the Encounter of Our Lord is a pictorial 
		rendering of this Gospel event. 
		
		
		The event takes place in the Temple of Jerusalem, in 
		front of the gate of the altar. Immediately flanking the 
		gates are, on the right, the aged Prophet Simeon holding 
		the Christ Child in his covered arms; and, on the left, a 
		small group including the Mother of God, the Holy Joseph, 
		and the Prophetess Anna. Simeon is the most important 
		person in the Icon. In the imagery of this event, he 
		represents all that was good, all that was God-seeking in 
		the Old Testament community. Encountering the Incarnate 
		Word of God present in the Infant Jesus, the Old Testament
		people -personified by Simeon -reached their fulfillment. 
		Thus completed, it can recognize the dawn of a new age, 
		the Age of Redemption, and see the close of its own era. 
		
		
		The Icon shows the Infant Jesus seated in the arms of St. 
		Simeon as if on a throne. Simeon's hands are covered with 
		his garment as a sign of reverence. Jesus is clothed in a 
		short robe or tunic. The Mother of God is depicted with 
		her left hand covered in a gesture of offering, having 
		just given her Son to Simeon. Next to her is Joseph, 
		carrying in the folds of his cloak the sacrifices of 
		purification as prescribed for the poor in the Book of 
		Leviticus: "two turtle doves or two young pigeons; one 
		for holocaust and the other for a sin offering." 
		(Lev. 12: 8) The last figure is the image of the 
		Prophetess Anna, also introduced in the Gospel of St. 
		Luke (2: 36-38) announcing to all creation that the Child 
		to Whom she is pointing, now presented in the Temple, is 
		the Creator of Heaven and of Earth. For us, the Icon is a 
		call to discover Christ, to meet Him, and accept Him as 
		our Lord and Savior. 
		
		
		TROPARION -Hail, Mother of God, Virgin, Full of Grace. 
		From you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, shining
		upon those who are in darkness. Rejoice also, you Just 
		Elder, Simeon, for you received in your arms the Redeemer 
		of our souls and Him Who gave us Resurrection.

		I now create a positive a positive pattern of self - worth 
		because I believe I am the best
		
		
		A positive, healthy sense of self - value and -worth is the 
		foundation of our happiness and success. When we know who we 
		are and believe it, our greatest dreams are possible. When we 
		doubt ourselves, question our worth, and undermine our 
		self - value, our greatest victory will be worthless. Affirm 
		"I am my greatest hero." That is really where it starts. We 
		must believe in who we are and what we do. We must look up 
		to and trust ourselves to make it through the difficulties 
		knowing that we can. Only we can truly appreciate and celebrate
		our own success. We are equipped and capable of getting to 
		where we want to be. If we have any doubts, we can always 
		hold our own hand.
		
		
		Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over 
		if you just sit there.
		

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