On February 2nd each year the church celebrates CANDLEMAS, traditionally the end of the Christmas season when Christmas decorations were taken down, as opposed to the modern take on the tradition which says that leaving decorations up beyond Twelfth Night is bad luck ( perhaps because so often Advent is ignored and Christmas preparations and celebrations start in the Autumn). Simeon had been waiting in the Temple for many years to see the Messiah when Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus to the Temple forty days after his birth to fulfil the Jewish Law (Luke 2:22-40). And so there is a strange and holy meeting of a young couple come to fulfil their religious duty and an old man (Simeon) who is something of a mystic and an old lady (Anna) who hangs around the temple. All belong in the one story. Holding the infant Messiah, Simeon knows his wait is over and God’s promise to him has been fulfilled. He praises God and sings of light and glory. But then Simeon turns to Mary and the tone changes:
“This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed to that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Candlemas is about halfway between Christmas and Good Friday and this perhaps helps us to hold the good things life gives us and the pains and suffering that we also have to face in our different ways. Perhaps you would like to light a candle and reflect on the light of Christ in your life and think how to bring the light of Christ into the world.
There is an old English rhyme: If Candlemas be fair and bright,? Come winter, have another flight;? If Candlemas bring clouds and rain,? Go winter, and come not again – bright sunshine on Candlemas day and more winter is on the way; if there are no shadows, winter was thought to be ending soon. The snowdrop is known as the ‘Candlemas flower’, because snowdrops are usually seen at Candlemas, although some of us have seen them earlier this year, and they are a symbol of hope. Jesus came as a light in the darkness; just as the snowdrops are bright and white in the winter soil. When you see snowdrops this February may they be symbols of hope for you: hope in the love and faithfulness of the Lord while you trust ‘that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Julian of Norwich).’ Sometimes we don’t see God’s promises fulfilled simply because we aren’t paying attention ( just as we can walk past snowdrops without noticing them) or because we don’t have eyes and hearts, like Simeon’s, prepared to see God at work in unexpected places.
Canon Robert Wright