THE PRESENTATION/ CANDLEMAS 2012
Candlemas, or ‘The Presentation of Christ’, is a time to look back to Christmas for the last time this year and at the
same time, to look forward to the events of Lent and Easter. We remember at this
festival the day that Jesus as the first -
born son, according to Jewish customs, forty days after His birth, was brought by His parents to be presented to God in
His temple.
In the reading in Luke's gospel the presentation follows directly after the naming of Jesus and many have
confused the two. However the circumcision and naming of Jesus took place 8 days after birth while the
Presentation was forty days after. It follows the law given by God to Moses and recorded in Exodus, 13, v:1,
when He says, 'Dedicate to me all the first born sons of Israel and every first born male animal,. They are
mine.' It is a reminder of the Israelite first born baby boys who were saved from death when God sent His
angel to slay all the first born sons of the Egyptians when Pharaoh would not let the Israelites leave Egypt. It
was also the time when Mary went through the 'purification' and thanksgiving rites after giving birth. This was
according to the Law given in Leviticus 12: Until this time, she was considered ceremonially unclean.
While there, an old man, Simeon, whom God had promised would not die until he had seen the coming of His Messiah,
came forward and proclaimed that this baby, was that person. His words were backed up by an elderly prophetess,
Anna, who lived in the temple and who came forward and started praising God. She then went out to tell anyone who
would listen, that she had seen the Messiah. However, Simeon warned Mary that Jesus’ future would be painful for her.
We can look back to our Christmas celebrations and remember Christ coming into the world and the message of hope.
His coming brought to us. Then we remember too that event surrounding His birth, involved both joy and pain. For
example, we remember the joy of the shepherds, and at the same time and the pain
of the mothers of the two-
At Candlemas, Jesus, God incarnate entered His temple. Today our bodies are temple for the Holy Spirit and in this form
Jesus enter into us.. we need to treat our bodies with respect
Every part of our being belongs to God and therefore should be cared for as part of our stewardship.
Simeon recognised this child as God's promised Messiah. Do we recognise and accept the living Christ within us? Do we
proclaim Him as our Saviour? Are we really happy about it? Do we rejoice as Anna did and do we want to go out and
share this good news with all we meet? Perhaps we are too afraid of ridicule?
As we look ahead to Lent and Easter, it is time to identify with Christ Himself and to consider the implications for us as
living as His followers today. In joy and in pain we are God's and He is with us and the reward for all of us who persevere
to the end is Eternal l ife through Jesus Who entered His Temple at Candlemas that first Christmas.
