Candlemas – Elizabeth Hartley writes
Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, were good Jews brought up from infancy to observe the customs and requirements of their religious beliefs, so the pattern of their life as we have followed it since the birth of their first-born son involved the carrying out of certain legal requirements.
Jesus was circumcised and given his name eight days after his birth, as required by the law laid out in Chapter 12 of Leviticus (which is the document in the Old Testament that contains “the Law”, as distinct from “the Prophets”, the Kings, the Psalms and the History).
On the 40th day after the birth Mary was required to go to the Temple or its local equivalent to be “purified” after the birth of her son. In ancient times and in many cultures there were special rituals to be performed in relation to the shedding of blood (and there still are; for example there are restrictions and prohibitions to be observed by menstruating women and the contacts to be made with them) And so in obedience to the law Luke tells us that Jesus’ parents travelled to Jerusalem to the Temple for Mary’s “purification”; probably they came from Bethlehem since they didn’t settle in Nazareth until they had returned to Nazareth from Egypt. There they presented 2 pigeons, for they were poor people, as a sacrifice for a “sin offering”, “sin” here meaning uncleanness from blood. On this occasion Simeon and Anna, two old faithful Jews, were able to greet them and thank God for the thrilling news of the birth of the promised Messiah, and to tell other people too.
The offering of sacrifices in worship from the produce of fields and flocks was a sign of the relationship between God and his worshippers. A sacrifice is partly self-giving, or self-deprivation, in honour of God to whom everything belongs. It is a demonstration of the costly basis of fellowship between God and man.
This account in St. Luke’s gospel also gives warning to Jesus’ parents and to us that it will not be a time of joy, triumph and acceptance but of suffering and grief. God’s appointed redeemer will share in the suffering, but as Simeon holds the baby Jesus in his arms, he also announces that this “salvation” will be not only for faithful Jews but for the whole world and for us too.
Over the centuries, the Christian calendar has been developed into a more or less general shape of church “seasons” – Advent Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost – following the shape of events set down in the Gospels. This pattern gives us the “security” of a regular shape to our church life, and the opportunity of variety within that shape. So within the seasons of the church, we find days dedicated to particular people or events that show like planets in our night sky, or “red-letter days” on the calendar. Quite a few of these days are linked to Mary the mother of Jesus who has always been especially honoured for her unique place in the gospels. Her “purification”, now know as the Presentation of the Lord, was one of the earliest feasts to be observed and it is also called “Candlemas” being not only an intimate event in the Holy Family’s life, but also the advertising by Simeon and Anna of the arrival of the long-hoped for Messiah, who would be not only for the Jews but for the Gentile world as well – “a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel”.
However we in the Churches remember and celebrate this day, it is one of joy and expectation – and of the realisation that life on earth is not all ease and satisfaction but often a struggle and a heart break.
Added: 2nd February 2011 || Submitted by: .
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