Blessed Candles, Burning Hearts
Then, after the purification had been completed in accordance with the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as prescribed in the law of the Lord: ‘Every firstborn male shall be deemed to belong to the Lord’), and also to make the offering as stated in the law: ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons’.
There was at that time in Jerusalem a man called Simeon. This man was upright and devout, one who watched and waited for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the law required, he took him in his arms, praised God, and said:
‘Now, Lord, you are releasing your servant in peace,
according to your promise.
For I have seen with my own eyes
the deliverance you have made ready in full view of all nations:
a light that will bring revelation to the Gentiles
and glory to your people Israel.’
The child’s father and mother were full of wonder at what was being said about him. - Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘This child is destined to be a sign that will be rejected; and you too will be pierced to the heart. Many in Israel will stand or fall because of him; and so the secret thoughts of many will be laid bare.’
There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was a very old woman, who had lived seven years with her husband after she was first married, and then alone as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer. Coming up at that very moment, she gave thanks to God; and she talked about the child to all who were looking for the liberation of Jerusalem.
When they had done everything prescribed in the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew big and strong and full of wisdom; and God’s favour was upon him.
Candlemas is a festival of light. We’ve come through the longest night of the year, the days are noticeably longer than they have been, and, though we may not have many signs yet, we hope for spring’s return. We gather on this feast to offer praise and worship to God, to bless the candles that will be used through the year, and to recall the Holy Family’s visit to the temple in Jerusalem to offer their own praise and thanksgiving for the safe delivery of their firstborn son.
There was a tradition among Jesus’ people that the firstborn son was to be offered to the temple for priestly work. The father of the boy could redeem him from this obligation by offering silver coins and a suitable sacrifice. Ideally a lamb but, for families with little means, two turtledoves would suffice. In addition to the rites with the son, the mother is to be purified after childbirth so that she can resume regular participation in the community, especially in places like the temple.
The visit of a family for these purposes would not have been remarkable. This was some of the everyday business of the temple and its workers. But on this occasion, with the arrival of a new mother who is already pure and a son who needs no redeeming, everything changes.
In spite of their not needing the rites of purification and redemption, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph all freely offer themselves in perfect obedience to the customs of their people. They keep the law and, in so doing, reveal to Simeon, Anna, and the rest of the world, what God is doing in their midst. In their obedience and sacrifice the light of grace is seen to shine, changing all who witness it.
This light shines in all of the dark places and the darkness cannot overcome it. (John 1:5) The light shines in the corners of the world that seem hopeless. It shines in the parts of our hearts were selfishness and greed and hatred grow. It shines upon and reveals the truth of masquerades that claim the name of justice but, in truth, seek only to exploit the vulnerable.
We, who once sat in darkness, have seen this glorious light. (Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16) It is what calls us all here this evening. Having seen it and felt its pull, if we move toward its source, to contend with what it reveals, and allow it to transform us, then we begin to live as the people the prophets told of. When we are willing to truly say to God, “Not my will but yours be done,” then we, too, begin to shine. (Luke 22:42) We appear to the world as citizens of the kingdom of God who dwell together in a city so peaceful and beautiful that nations and kings stream toward it, calling its walls Deliverance and its gates Praise. (Isaiah 60:1-18)
We remember today a baby, his life bought by an adoring father with silver coins and sacrifice. The same baby whose life will one day be sold for silver coins and end in sacrifice, piercing his blessed mother’s heart. We remember a virgin mother, intending to be purified and receiving a prophecy about the joy and sorrow her life will contain. We remember Simeon, impossibly old waiting for the light of the nations brought by an infant. We remember Anna, fearful and vulnerable, wrapped in her prayer like the safe walls of the temple, waiting for her prophecy to send her into the world, proclaiming salvation. We remember all of them, freely offering themselves to God’s will.
Each time we gather to pray, we say together the prayer that Jesus taught us. In so doing, we commit and recommit ourselves to the same obedient sacrifice of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-13) Prayer after prayer we remind ourselves that this humility is at the centre of our Christian lives.
May we, like all those we remember tonight, feel our hearts aflame with the purpose of God’s will, take the light of Christ into the world, that all might rejoice in its radiance, sing its praise, and know its salvation.
