Thought for the Week

3 February 2008 – The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)

Collect:	Almighty Father, whose Son Jesus Christ was presented in the Temple and acclaimed the glory of Israel and the light of the nations: grant that in him we may be presented to you and in the world may reflect his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings	Malachi 3, 1 - 5
	Psalm 24, 1 - 10
	Hebrews 2, 14 - 18
	Luke 2, 22 - 40

Yesterday - 2nd February - was Candlemas (or Candlemass) day. You may be familiar with the rhyme:

If Candlemas day be fair and bright

Winter will have another flight;

If on Candlemas day it be shower and rain,

Winter is gone and will not come again.

This rhyme gives us the clue that, like some other Christian festivals, the origin of Candlemas has pagan elements. Some people are superstitious about bringing snowdrops into the house on Candlemas Day – they think it symbolises death or a parting during the coming year. In pre-Christian times, the Festival of Light was celebrated halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, to mark the mid-point of winter. In American folklore 2nd February is Groundhog Day – the day when the groundhog comes out of his burrow to look for signs of spring. Some British gardeners say that on 2nd February hedgehogs poke their nose out of hibernation to test the weather.

Candlemas began to be observed in Jerusalem in about 350 AD. It is a rite of procession, and all the candles to be used by the church during the year are blessed. It symbolises Christ as the true light of the world.

The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, and the Churching of Women and Baptism are also celebrated on 2nd February.

In the 16th century Edward VI decided that “this popish ceremony was too ceremonial” for the Church of England. Instead they concentrated on the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Churching of Women. In the process they caused a lot of confusion about the relevance of ancient cleansing laws and the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

According to the law of Moses (Exodus 13.2) the Jews were required to dedicate their first-born son to God. The dedication ceremony took place in the Temple 40 days after the child’s birth. Candlemas – 2nd February - falls 40 days after Christmas. In some churches, the Christmas decorations remain in place until the Epiphany – 6th January. Other churches keep them until Candlemas, but then they must be taken down, because Candlemas is the last day of the Christmas Season and tomorrow the liturgical colour changes from white to green.

When Joseph and Mary made the journey to the Temple in Jerusalem to present Jesus and to offer the ritual sacrifice they cannot have been prepared for what was about to happen. They were simply doing what every husband and wife did with their first-born son. According to Leviticus (Leviticus 12.6-8) the sacrifice was either a lamb, or a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons – depending on one’s financial circumstances. We know that Joseph and Mary were not well off because St. Luke tells us that they offered turtledoves or pigeons.

In the Temple they met Simeon and Anna – two elderly people who were looking to the Lord for the salvation of the world. Anna, 84 years old, had been married for just 7 years when her husband died. Life would have been extremely difficult for Anna with no husband to provide for her. We don’t know how old Simeon was – only that he had received a message from the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. During the trials of their lifetime each of them had experienced the spiritual purifying of which Malachi spoke.

Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms, praised God, and said, “my eyes have seen your salvation.” Note the tense - have seen. Not “will see”; not “hope to see at some time in the dim future”. “My eyes have seen your salvation.”

The message of Candlemas is this: Jesus is the Light of the World. Jesus comes to bring light into our lives. Bringing in light means casting out darkness, it’s a process of spiritual purifying. That can only happen when we consciously ask Jesus to come into our lives every day, not just on Candlemas.

Amen.

Revd June Hutchinson: Anglican Chaplaincy of Midi-Pyrénées & Aude

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