And...we're back for another week of hard-hitting, halo-busting Lent Madness action! Today we have a battle between a renowned 19th century preacher and an aged Biblical figure who held the newborn Jesus in his arms. It's "O Little Town of Bethlehem" vs. the Nunc Dimittis as can only happen in Lent Madness.
This week we'll see the conclusion of the Round of 32 and on Thursday we'll commence with the Round of the Saintly Sixteen. To paraphrase Scripture, "Many (well, okay, 32) are called, but only one will receive the Golden Halo." Onward Christian Voters!
Phillips Brooks
While in our day Phillips Brooks is best-known as the man who wrote the words to “O Little Town of Bethlehem”—and the prayer on the back of Forward Day by Day issues—in the mid-to late-nineteenth century, he was so renowned as a preacher that he was invited by Queen Victoria to preach at her private chapel at Windsor Castle.
Born into a distinguished, devout family in Boston in 1835, Brooks was one of six brothers, four of whom became Episcopal priests. Educated at Boston Latin, Harvard, and Virginia Episcopal Seminary, he was ordained in 1860 and served the first ten years of his ministry in Philadelphia. He was known there for his support of emancipation and, after the Civil War, full voting rights. The sermon he preached after Lincoln’s death is still highly regarded for its eloquence.
However, his home in Boston called to him, and in 1869 he became rector of Trinity Church. Three years later, the building on Summer Street was destroyed by fire, but as a testament to his leadership and gifts as a pastor, the church continued to thrive. According to Harvard Magazine, the congregation was known for its “evangelical warmth, diversity of classes, and charitable activism.”
After land was purchased at Copley Square in 1872, Brooks and his friend, the architect H.H. Richardson, designed the new Trinity, a church that became one of Boston’s most magnificent landmarks. The uncommon placement of the altar in the center of the chancel embodied Brooks’s vision, which he called “a symbol of unity; God and man and all God’s creation.” Unlike most preachers of his day, he didn’t preach from a pulpit. He was also a supporter of congregational singing.
After serving as rector of Trinity for twenty-two years, Brooks was elected Bishop of Massachusetts. He served for only fifteen months before dying of diphtheria at age fifty-seven. Harvard students carried his coffin, and the people of Boston of all religious stripes mourned the passing of a great figure.
At six feet, four inches tall and nearly 300 pounds, he was both a big person and a huge personality who was regarded as a faithful pastor along with his fame as preacher and leader of a large parish. Throughout his ministry, he devoted a great deal of care to the nurture of young people. When one young man wrote to him asking the secret of life, Brooks replied, “I am sure that it is a deeper knowledge and truer love of Christ... I cannot tell you how personal this grows to me. He is here. He knows me and I know him. It is no figure of speech. It is the realest thing in the world. And every day makes it realer.”
Collect for Phillips Brooks
O everlasting God, you revealed truth to your servant Phillips Brooks, and so formed and molded his mind and heart that he was able to mediate that truth with grace and power: Grant, we pray, that all whom you call to preach the Gospel may steep themselves in your Word, and conform their lives to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-- Heidi Shott
Simeon
Simeon, we read in the Gospel of Luke, was a righteous and devout man living in Jerusalem. His name is the same as Simeon (Hebrew Shimon), the second son of the patriarch Jacob and his wife Leah and namesake of the Israelite tribe of Simeon. One translation of the name is “he has heard my suffering;” this meaning echoes scripture that tells how Jacob favored his other wife, Rachel, over Leah, Simeon’s mother.
An ancient legend tells that the Egyptian pharaoh Ptolemy II called seventy scholars together to translate the Holy Scriptures into Greek for the library at Alexandria (this translation would become known as the Septuagint). Simeon was one of the seventy, and while he was translating the book of Isaiah, he read, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive in the womb, and shall bring forth a Son” (Isaiah 7:14). Thinking the word virgin should read woman, Simeon began to make the correction. An angel appeared to him, saying, “You shall see these words fulfilled. You shall not die until you behold Christ the Lord born of a pure and spotless Virgin.”
According to Luke, the Holy Spirit guided Simeon into the Temple when Joseph and Mary brought Jesus there for customary Jewish rites. Simeon took the infant Jesus into his arms and prayed what has become known as the Song of Simeon, or Nunc Dimittis, traditionally used as a canticle at Evensong in The Episcopal Church:
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
— The Book of Common Prayer, p. 66
When Simeon holds the infant Jesus, the ancient tribes of Israel meet the new incarnation of God. The laments of Israel are heard; the Messiah has been born and is presented in the Temple, held in the arms of the namesake of a tribe of Israel.
We don’t encounter Simeon again in Holy Scripture. Tradition says he died at a very old age. Simeon is called the God-receiver in the Orthodox Church. In the Western Church, Simeon is predominant in the Feast of the Presentation (also called Candlemas) on February 2, where the Church commemorates the dedication of Jesus in the Temple by his parents.
Collect for Simeon
Almighty God, you gave to your servant Simeon the hope and consolation of seeing your salvation in the baby Jesus at the temple. Like Simeon, give us eyes to see your salvation, that when our day comes, we too may depart this world in peace. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
(Collect written by Nancy Hopkins-Greene.)
-- Laurie Brock
Vote!
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154 comments on “Phillips Brooks vs. Simeon”
Had to vote for Brooks - I love the prayer he wrote that Forward Day-by-Day uses: : "O God, give me the strength to live another day . . .". Always have a better day when I begin with Brooks' prayer.
It is a difficult choice - between a man who testified to knowing Jesus in his heart - he is there for all of us, and knowing Jesus in his hands as a babe. I voted for Simeon because I think he marks a seminal point in the preparation of the world to grow the covenant of Christ from a small land in the Middle East to spanning the entire world and half the population of this planet (in its various iterations).
For me, it has to be Simeon, simply because I love the Nunc Dimittis, which is an important part of Compline. No 19th century priest can compare.
As a lifetime Bostonian, though now in the suburbs, I felt naturally impelled to vote for Rev Brooks and I was also greatly influenced by reading of his great life so that I voted for him while Simeon appeared somewhat close to a mythological figure.
Come on, you Simeon supporters, call your friends, call your neighbors, call your neighbors' friends, call you friends' neighbors, let's get Simeon on to the next round!!!
Another tough choice, especially after Mark D.'s sharing of that lovely motet! And the paragraph: "When Simeon holds the infant Jesus, the ancient tribes of Israel meet the new incarnation of God. The laments of Israel are heard; the Messiah has been born and is presented in the Temple, held in the arms of the namesake of a tribe of Israel."
But I had to go with Phillips Brooks. Not because of "O Little Town" (though I *do* like the last verse) but because he pulled the altar out from the back of the chancel, he encouraged congregational singing, and he didn't preach from the pulpit. (I wonder if he paced, the way our rector does.)
I DO love O Little Town... But I'm voting for Mr. brooks because of another great song.... Love That Dirty Water... Boston you're my home!
I've noticed something that I
I think is worth highlighting. Correct me if I'm wrong, but whenever there has been a match-up between a saint who has lived recently enough to be photographed, and a saint whose likeness survives only in icon or stained glass or other medium, the one with the photo wins. What does this say about us, folks?
We want assurance that the saints really aren't vampires?
Ooh, hadn't thought of that one!
I think it has more to do with more easily connecting with the more recent saints than the fact that we see real pictures of them. To have a picture means you were alive in the last 150 years or so.
The invention of photography goes back to around 1800. And actually Parts of that invention go back to antiquity .....
Brooks is splendid and worthy, but the Nunc Dimittis is in my house every evening. Anyway, having lost the chance to support a man who held Jesus in his arms at the end of his life, I must give my best for a man who held him at the beginning!
I thought sure that I would vote for Bishop Brooks for being a great role model, but browsing down the comments and thinking about the idea of a lifetime's patience plus considering the beauty of holding the baby Jesus, my click went to Simeon instead.
The Bostonian in me so wanted to vote for Phillip Brooks, but "Simeon is called the God-receiver in the Orthodox church" won me over. Good job, Laurie!
Phillips. Sorry about that.
I will vote for this priest too. I revere Simeon. So this vote is partially because Philip served another Trinity Church that was destroyed and recovered from fire, as our own did here in Phoenix.
I just sent you a friend request on Facebook. At least I *think* it was you!
Gotta give props to Brooks. He laid the cornerstone to our beloved Saint Johns Episcopal, Northampton, Massachustts! Go Brutha!
Nothing against Phillips Brooks, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a lovely carol that I have probably sung every Christmas since I was a little boy (I am now 62 so that is a long time), but Simeon held the baby Jesus and declared him to be Lord and Savior when no one knew! That example of faith is clearly miraculous!
I voted for Brooks as someone to emulate--which I think is ultimately what we most need from our saints. Except for the 300 pounds part.
This Rev Brooks lived his life admirably but Simeon? Wow, I just see no comparison. I feel Simeon was established as a saint in our most sacred text. I'm flabbergasted he did not win hands down.
I was really torn between these 2 men & tried to justify my voting one way & then the other. My conclusions are certainly not logical, but they finally worked for me.
First, I've always been pissed that we have the Nunc Dimittis from Simeon & not a word from Anna; not either of their faults, but I warned you this isn't logical.
Secondly, Phillips Brooks lived in a very difficult historical period & negotiated politically hot potato issues well & still was elected bishop.
But primarily, I think "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is one of the finest examples we have of narrative theology in our hymnody, & I really wish he'd written some more.
First, it is Phillips Brooks, NOT Phillip (which is a misspelling of Philip), NOT Philip (the correct spelling, like the Apostle), but Phillips -- a use of a last name as a first name!
Second, people need to reread the Gospel of John, the 2nd chapter about Simeon (and Anna). We are told that both are very old. Simeon was ready to die but was told that he would see the Lord's Messiah before doing so. He is talking about dying when he says that now he can depart in peace. And Simeon AND Anna both confess Jesus as Lord to those around them in the temple. Simeon tells Mary and Joseph who Jesus is, he does NOT just leave the temple (that is not what departing peace means, Simeon is talking about departing this life, his own death!: "25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." John 2:25-38 Unfortunately, some of the misreadings of the story of Simeon may have been persuasive, even though wrong!
(Hey Phil, Simeon's story is in the gospel of Luke.)
I know, my mistake, I meant Luke!
I was so upset with people calling Simeon a "mere biblical character" and even mythological that I typed the wrong thing!
I know what you mean! I don't understand that line of thinking at all. It's why I posted my question on why the saints with photographs win out over the ancient ones. (I'm still reeling from Joseph of Ar.'s loss!) Ah well. Everyone's heart is in it, and it's interested how we all--even in this group of relatively like-minded folks--can feel so passionately different about things. Vive la différence!
Sorry, my mouse sometimes clicks twice when I click once, and I keep getting double postings -- I thought this site guarded against that?! Anyway, the whole point of Simeon's story is that he pointed out to Mary and Joseph and the entire crowd at the temple that this baby was the promised Messiah, our Lord and Savior! Anna responds to hearing that by telling everyone around her! And Simeon is about to depart this life ("Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace") and Anna is very old too. Neither one was going to live long enough to see or hear any of Jesus' ministry. Yet years before that they declare Jesus as Lord and Savior. Absolutely remarkable!
And I too am reeling from Joseph of Arimathea's loss. Again there is more to it than merely providing the tomb. At the time Jesus' followers were worried about the Roman soldiers engaging in "funny business" about Jesus' corpse and vice versa, the Romans were worried that some of Jesus' followers were going to make the body disappear so they could then declare "see he was resurrected as he declared he would" when that was not the case at all. Only by having a trustworthy person like Joseph put Jesus in the tomb after proper preparation could there be any assurance of the miracle of resurrection that was about to take place! Even then there were a lot of questions -- not indicated in the Gospels per se -- about what had happened. Some of Jesus' followers thought that the Romans had done something, and the Romans were sure that Jesus' followers were pulling something! Joseph is, therefore, a key part of the resurrection, not just a "minor" character. Yes, it bothers me that he lost!
I was so upset with people calling Simeon a "mere biblical character" and even mythological that I typed the wrong thing!
And BTW St. Simeon's Day is February 3, the day after Candlemas or the Presentation of Our Lord!
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple took place on a Sunday this year (a real treat for those of us who don't get to weekday feasts), so it was good to hear the Simeon story and the Nunc in their biblical context.