Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying — the taking in his arms (agkalias autou, embracing) is the most intimate physical contact with the infant Jesus in the Gospel narrative. The old man who has waited for the consolation of Israel holds in his arms the child who is that consolation, and his response is praise. The praise is the Nunc Dimittis — the song of the watchman who has seen the dawn.

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