Thursday 02 February 2023

Background

Today we pause from our reflections in the letter of James to mark Candlemas, when the baby Jesus was presented in the Temple in Jerusalem as required by the law of Moses.

Call the Midwife is a favourite TV programme in our house. The writers have a wonderful gift for setting the scene of 1960s Poplar and never shying away from difficult issues while also rejoicing in the gift of new lives. I would not be in the least surprised if this narrative from Luke’s Gospel was something of an inspiration for the scriptwriters!

 This is a moment of such beauty in the narrative of Jesus’ earthly life for it reveals how the presence of Christ brings the fulfilment of hope and longing to the lives of faithful Simeon and Anna. They had longed prayed for the coming of the Messiah, the one who would fulfil prophecy and hope for a wayward world.  In blessing the child Jesus, Simeon found fulfilment for own life, work and ministry too: "It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah." (verse 26) 

 And in an amazing moment, not only did he see the Lord’s Messiah, but he held him in his arms resulting in a song of praise (verses 29-32) which has become an evening prayer in the daily liturgy of the Church.

In the act of purification, Simeon himself is also made whole and fulfilled.

And what of Anna, the widow whose life was focussed on being a prayerful presence in the Temple? Out of her grief, she found solace in the presence of God through prayer and devotion. I wonder if she ever expected to come face to face with God in Christ through her lived-out prayers?  And then, in a moment of time, God broke in and touched her heart through the smile of a baby. The experience not only brought forth praise but was the initiation of her new life of witness.

So today, as Christians light candles to celebrate Candlemas, maybe we are challenged not only to receive and rejoice in the coming of Christ to us as he did to Simeon, but to allow our experience of meeting Christ to be shared in real and relevant ways with those around us. 

Listen

‘Light of the world, you stepped down into darkness’

To Ponder:

• How does the presentation of Jesus in the Temple make you feel? Does it evoke past memories of joy or pain?
• Give thanks for those who journey with us in joy or pain.
• Pray for someone who needs hope in a particular way today.

Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, light of life and gift of love, come to us afresh and renew us by your presence. Amen.