Monday, February 2, 2015
The Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas)
Luke 2:22-40
The author of Luke’s Gospel continues the engaging narrative story of Jesus’ birth and early infancy with this account of the Jewish ritual of presenting – and redeeming – the first-born child. Jesus is brought by his parents to the Temple where, according to the custom, he is dedicated, and presented, and then redeemed by a payment, in this case, measured to fit the economic status of the parents. Two birds – turtle-doves, or pigeons, we are told – buy back the parents’ right to nurture and raise their child.
Two other characters play a significant role in this drama. The first, Simeon, sings a song of fulfillment: “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation . . .” It would seem that the wait for God’s anointed one, at least to Simeon, was finally over, bringing to mind another passage, this one from the Hebrew scriptures: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2) The other character, Anna, also praises God, this time with unpublished words of thanksgiving. It is interesting, however, that both Anna and Simeon utter words of caution and concern, prefiguring, in a way, aspects of this child’s future, and of his mother’s too.
The church’s tradition of blessing candles for the following year’s liturgies stems from Simeon’s words describing Jesus as “a light to lighten the Gentiles,” and “the glory of your people Israel”, that is, a light for all people.
May this day bring to us the light of the Christ, to beckon, to call us out of our own particular darkness, and to guide us.
- Reverend Paul Kett
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