Presentation of Christ in the Temple – morning
Sunday 28th January 2018
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
Malachi 3. 1-5
Luke 2. 22-40
Revd Preb Maureen Hobbs
For the church Candlemas marks the true end of the Christmas Season.
Oh, I know you all put your trees and decorations and cards away a long time ago – some people want to dismantle it all on Boxing Day!… But we have been savouring the season.
After all the mystery and magic of Christmas itself, we have been remembering the many ways in which God reveals himself to humanity – That is what Epiphany and the weeks of Ephiphany are concerned with.
And now, right at the end, we are back with the baby. Just a few weeks old and being brought by his parents to the Temple as the Law decreed, to be offered symbolically to God, as a gift of thanksgiving. Of course, they were not going to sacrifice their precious son – the ancient Israelites took pride in distinguishing themselves from the tribes among whom they lived back in OT times – partly because they had long before rejected the notion of sacrificing one’s children to a vengeful God. But an echo of that time remains – an echo of Abraham being prepared to sacrifice Isaac – in the substitution of two pigeons or doves.
This action also reminded God’s people of the stories of Exodus, when all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians died, and the first son born to an Israelite couple was given to God to thank him for sparing them. Then the parents bought their son back again by making a gift to God!
I also sometimes think we should call this Sunday – Grandparents’ Sunday, (or maybe Seniors’ Sunday would be more appropriate!) because of the very significant part played by two elderly people, Simeon and Anna. Showing that they too had a part to play in recognising the revealing of God to the world. It wasn’t just left to Shepherds, or Wise Men from the East, or even to the couple whose baby Jesus was… These two people – unrelated to the Holy Family as far as we know, are highly significant and their words and actions have been remembered through the centuries.
For them, the child represented Hope. Hope for the future. And in these troubled times that is something we could all do with a bit more of!
So why do we call it Candlemas? Well, there are several reasons.
If you were to go into the school tomorrow morning and ask the children why we always begin worship there by lighting a candle, I can guarantee that lots of hands would go up, eager to tell you that Jesus is the light of the world.
And their eagerness is a direct link with that of the old man Simeon in our Gospel for today. Claiming that he had finally – after many years of waiting and wishing – seen the child who was to be ‘a light for revelation to the Gentiles – and for glory to God’s people Israel.’
Candles hold a special place in our minds and hearts. Even though we long ago moved onto more efficient forms of lighting, if you want to create an atmosphere in a room; to put people into a mellow mood; perhaps to share a bottle of wine with a loved one; or even just to take a relaxing bath! – there is nothing to beat the gentle glow of candlelight.
And candles can also be a significant source of warmth and heat. If you are travelling in the car in winter, you are advised by the AA, RAC and the rest to include a candle in your emergency kit. The warmth from that might be just enough to stop you freezing if you are stranded in snow or ice. (although please be aware of possible fire hazards!)
Many years ago, peasant families might well have slaughtered a pig for the mid-winter festivities. And nothing, absolutely nothing, would go to waste. Have you heard the expression, that everything was used bar the squeal?
That included the waste body fat which – after the meat had been butchered and jointed; after the internal organs had been used for various dishes and the leftovers made into sausages, then the fat was rendered down for use either in soap or in candles. And the candles were brought to church at this time of year – round about the beginning of February, to be blessed for the coming year.
So that each time a candle was lit, whether in church or at home, people could remember the Christ-child and the light he brought into the world.
So you see, candles are not just a bit of empty ritual, they are deeply, deeply symbolic and can help us recall not just the Christmas story but the revealing of God to all people – including us – and our own part of the story. That is why every child or person who is baptised, is given a candle.
For if all Christians are called to be like Jesus – lights to the world, that means we too have to sacrifice our time, our convenience, our comfort and even our lives if necessary, in the service of the whole world, and especially the poor and needy. The sacrifice called for is great, but the promised reward is greater still!