For me one of the most moving feasts in the Church’s calendar is Candlemas on the 2nd February every year. It arrives forty days after the birth of Jesus but is not as well known as Christmas and Easter. Candlemas tells the story of Jesus being presented in the Temple by Mary and Joseph to God the Father and shown to his people. The Law stated that every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord. In the Temple at the time were two people, Simeon and Anna, who were elderly and were waiting to see Jesus the new born child. God had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he saw baby Jesus and when he saw Jesus he swept him up in his arms and praised God saying this words….
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace
your word has been fulfilled
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of you people Israel. Luke 2:29-32
Not only did Simeon recognize Jesus as the light of the world but also spoke of the life of Jesus to come of how he was to face not only glory but also pain. Later on in the passage, Anna—who was a widow and had never left the Temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying—also thanked God for Jesus and spoke about his life to come.
There is so much in the meeting of Jesus and Simeon and Anna that speaks to us today. They are both known as the ‘quiet in the land’ – going about their daily lives in prayer and quiet watchfulness for God at work in the world. They watched patiently in humble faithful expectation for Jesus and although they had both known sorrow they had not grown bitter and never gave up hope. It also was a meeting of both young and old and the part they played in God’s plans. The witness and life of Simeon and Anna show to us there’s no retirement in God’s eyes!
The feast of Candlemas is very much a turning point in the Church year as we take one last look back at the birth of Jesus and now turn to face Lent and the events of Holy Week. and Easter. It is very much a bitter sweet turning point as we will soon begin our journey into forty days of Lent and spend time reflecting on our own lives. Join us at St Peter’s on Ash Wednesday, 26th February, at 7:30pm when we gather to start our Lenten observance and in the meantime let’s pray that we too may recognize Jesus, the light of the world in our lives and the life of the world.
Rev Glenn Coggins,
Vicar of the United Benefice of Stanley, Outwood and Wrenthorpe and Alverthorpe.
