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| Candlemas |
A Light for Revelation
Thus,
says the Lord God: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek, And the
messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of
hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner's fire, or like the fuller's lye. Malachi 3:1-2
And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner's fire, or like the fuller's lye. Malachi 3:1-2
Because
he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who
are being tested. Hebrews 2:18
It
had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before
he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the
law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now,
Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for
my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the
peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.” Luke 2:26-32
and glory for your people Israel.” Luke 2:26-32
Piety
Lord, like Simeon, make me sensitive and aware of Your
Holy Spirit's promptings! Help me to wait patiently for the Second Epiphany.
Study
Simeon's wait paid off.
Imagine his joy after waiting
day after day, week after week, month after month. The Holy Spirit promised to reveal the
Lord. He did not mount a camel to cross
the desert to Bethlehem or Egypt in search of the boy-God. He did not store up
gold, frankincense or myrrh. As old age
crept in and eyesight weakened, the long-awaited encounter finally occurs! How
many other parents with small boys showed up for purification rituals? How many others did Simeon and Anna encounter
over the years in anticipation of this one baby and his blessed parents? Nonetheless, they waited and waited until,
finally, the wait was over. The Holy
Spirit rewarded Simeon for his patience, for enduring the refiner's fire. Simeon had a chance to hold baby Jesus. He took Jesus into his arms and blessed God,
saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace."
One look into the face of Jesus fulfilled the hope
of Simeon's life. One look into the face
of our Savior and we will know the same.[i]
Today's feast day is also
called "Candlemas." By the
light of the candles in the temple, Simeone recognized the person of the Lord
whom he met that day. Perhaps this also
could be called "Little Epiphany."
The third name for today in
the church calendar is the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. Two events coincide with this
celebration. Not only do Joseph and Mary
bring Jesus to the temple but also, following Jewish law, the mother presents
herself for purification 33 days after a boy's circumcision. That is why Mary
and Joseph also brought with them two turtle doves.
The feast falls on the 40th
day of the Christmas-Epiphany season.
However, unfortunately, in the USA, the rich symbolism of Candlemas in
the Christmas season has mostly been overshadowed by Groundhog Day.
Action
We have lost the anticipatory
effect of waiting. We are a society, a
people, which demands instant gratification.
We would instead drive to a Starbucks and stand in line for 20 minutes
to pay $3.95 (plus tax) for a Venti Caramel Frappuccino than buy a pound of
coffee and brew a cup of coffee at home for a fraction of the price. Note:
brewing a 9-cup Moka pot full of espresso takes less than 10 minutes on the
stove.
Time exists for us, rather
than the other way around. If you can't
be home at 8 p.m. Tuesday to watch N.C.I.S., then you can see it by recording
it on DVD or calling up video-on-demand via Contour®. Simeon had no such luxury.
What do we miss in the rush of
our lives? Maybe we lose just sitting in
the temple and waiting. Perhaps we miss
the value of every encounter (group reunion) with another who represents Christ
to us in real time and space is a little epiphany or Candlemas.
Who will you encounter today?
How will they be Christ to you? Who will meet you today? How will you be Christ to them? If you rush
by (on the way to Starbucks), you might miss something. Someday, you, too, will
see GOD!
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