+He gave life, and they gave him death — at least some did!
There is both irony here and deep, deep meaning.
But beginning with the Gospel, we have here the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, known before as the Feast of the Purification of Our Lady, and also as Candlemas.
It often involved processions, highlighting the procession of Joseph and Mary with Jesus to present him in the temple.
Also, candles were blessed and carried in processions because we were again greeting light, or the light — Jesus the Christ.
In fact, this feast brings to a close the several celebrations of light— Christmas, just following the winter solstice; the darkest night of the year, the longest night, with the birth of Christ the light.
Then the feast of the Epiphany, when magi from the East came to greet Christ the Lord.
Finally, this final feast 40 days after the birth, with candles and light finishing the season of light — the Christmas season.
The ordinary scene in the temple when Jesus is being presented erupts into something quite extraordinary.
The emphasis of the Presentation is immediately overtaken by the presence and participation of two elders — a man and a woman.
The first was Simeon— a devout man who had received a promise that he would not die until he had laid his eyes upon the messiah.
Guided by the Spirit he entered the temple and gushed forth with words of praise and words noting the fulfillment of that promise, saying —
“Now, master, you may let your servant go in peace” — let me die! — “for my eyes have seen your salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles. …”
And as if that drama were not enough, the holy woman Anna who lived in the temple night and day, came forward and —
“Gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”
What was simply supposed to have been a purification rite for Mary, the mother of the firstborn child Jesus, to have been ritually cleansed after giving birth because of her bleeding (which made her ritually unclean), and allowing her to come out of seclusion.
And also the firstborn and even firstborn animals were presented to God in thanksgiving for all life!
This was enough to celebrate — until all heaven broke loose with the utterings of Simeon and Anna.
And so, the first reading from Malachi, Psalm 24, and the selection from Hebrewsall interpret for us —
“Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord.”
And all that he would say and do to us and for us and among us, and forever after with us, is recognized in this simple and humble feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
And light — yes, light — would be given unto us forever and ever and ever.
