VII. While the old man was thus exultant, and rejoicing with exceeding great and holy joy, that which had before been spoken of in a figure by the prophet Isaiah, the holy mother of God now manifestly fulfilled. For taking, as from a pure and undefiled altar, that coal living and ineffable, with man's flesh invested, in the embrace of her sacred hands, as it were with the tongs, she held Him out to that just one, addressing and exhorting him, as it seems to me, in words to this effect: Receive, O reverend senior, you of priests the most excellent, receive the Lord, and reap the full fruition of that hope of yours which is not left widowed and desolate.
Receive, you of men the most illustrious, the unfailing treasure, and those riches which can never be taken away. Take to your embrace, O you of men most wise, that unspeakable might, that unsearchable power, which can alone support you. Embrace, you minister of the temple, the Greatness infinite, and the Strength incomparable. Fold yourself around Him who is the very life itself, and live, O you of men most venerable, Cling closely to incorruption and be renewed, O you of men most righteous.
Not too bold is the attempt; shrink not from it then, O you of men most holy. Satiate yourself with Him you have longed for, and take your delight in Him who has been given, or rather who gives Himself to you, O you of men most divine. Joyfully draw your light, O you of men most pious, from the Sun of Righteousness, that gleams around you through the unsullied mirror of the flesh. Fear not His gentleness, nor let His clemency terrify you, O you of men most blessed. Be not afraid of His lenity, nor shrink from His kindness, O you of men most modest.
Join yourself to Him with alacrity, and delay not to obey Him. That which is spoken to you, and held out to you, savours not of over-boldness. Be not then reluctant, O you of men the most decorous. The flame of the grace of my Lord does not consume, but illuminates you, O you of men most just. Let the bush which set forth me in type, with respect to the verity of that fire which yet had no subsistence, teach you this, O you who art in the law the best instructed. Let that furnace which was as it were a breeze distilling dew persuade you, O master, of the dispensation of this mystery.
Then, beside all this, let my womb be a proof to you, in which He was contained, who in nought else was ever contained, of the substance of which the incarnate Word yet deigned to become incarnate. The blast of the trumpet does not now terrify those who approach, nor a second time does the mountain all on smoke cause terror to those who draw near, nor indeed does the law punish relentlessly those who would boldly touch. What is here present speaks of love to man; what is here apparent, of the Divine condescension.
Thankfully, then, receive the God who comes to you, for He shall take away your iniquities, and thoroughly purge your sins. In you, let the cleansing of the world first, as in type, have place. In you, and by you, let that justification which is of grace become known beforehand to the Gentiles. You are worthy of the quickening first-fruits. You have made good use of the law. Use grace henceforth. With the letter you have grown weary; in the spirit be renewed. Put off that which his old, and clothe yourself with that which is new. For of these matters I think not that you are ignorant.
Source: Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna (New Advent)