Dear Friends,
This Sunday is the Feast of Candlemas. It is one of the most beautiful feasts of the Church’s year and comes in the depths of winter. We commemorate Mary and Joseph bringing the child Jesus to be presented to the Lord in the Temple. He is received by the priest Simeon and his song, the Nunc Dimittis, has been sung in the church at Evensong or Compline ever since. The prophetess, Anna, speaks powerfully about the child, but her words are not recorded. Our words, instead, take up Simeon’s message of hope. Jesus is a light in a dark world and we are called to proclaim that light of the world.
Recently, I turned on some of the ‘smart’ devices in my home (much to the annoyance of my wife because the Google assistant had not yet learned to recognize her voice!). The initial excitement of having a house that responds to voice commands has already waned; no longer do I get the feeling I used to get as a boy when I watched Star Trek. Now I have to remember what commands I actually taught the device! One of the unexpected things, however, has been a reflection on the Book of Genesis; for the first time I am able to say “Let there be light” and there IS light! The light is good (even though Alison prefers an old-fashioned switch) and I marvel at what it means to say that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World.
Simeon proclaimed Jesus as the light that would enlighten the nations and the glory of Israel. This Sunday, as we light our hand-held candles, we shall hear again that same song of Simeon. Let us make it our own and, with our own voice, proclaim Jesus as the light who casts out all darkness.
Here is another sonnet by Malcolm Guite:
Candlemas
They came, as called, according to the Law.
Though they were poor and had to keep things simple,
They moved in grace, in quietness, in awe,
For God was coming with them to His temple.
Amidst the outer court’s commercial bustle
They’d waited hours, enduring shouts and shoves,
Buyers and sellers, sensing one more hustle,
Had made a killing on the two young doves.
They come at last with us to Candlemas
And keep the day the prophecies came true
We glimpse with them, amidst our busyness,
The peace that Simeon and Anna knew.
For Candlemas still keeps His kindled light,
Against the dark our Saviour’s face is bright.
Please bring friends and family to Church this Sunday, and share that light with them. The 4pm service will include the Blessing of Light, and will be held in candlelight. In our busyness, let us stop for a while this Sunday, and, as the flame is kindled, glimpse the love that God pours into our lives through his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
With best wishes,
Carl,
your priest and pastor.
