Today’s Gospel tells us the story of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. During the presentation, two holy people, Simeon and Anna, witness to Jesus as the “light of the nations”. So, it is the Church’s custom to celebrate this feast with the blessing and lighting of candles - a reference to the Christmas theme of light.
The candles can serve as a reminder that Christ, our Light, is always present with us.
In the gospel, Luke presents Simeon as one who looks forward to the salvation promised by God through the prophets and who recognises that salvation in the child before him. Anna speaks about the child to all who were looking forward to the deliverance (salvation) of Jerusalem. Both proclaim Jesus as the ‘promised one of God’. Simeon describes Jesus as, ‘a light to enlighten the pagans, and the glory of your people Israel.’ If Christ is the Light, then who are we? The Gospels tell us not only who Jesus is, but who we are, too, as members of the Body of Christ, living and working under the reign of God’s grace.
Today’s feast draws our attention back to Christmas with its theme of light. It also draws our attention to wonder how we, as the Body of Christ here and now, might be Light for each other especially in the darkness of human experience.