In our tradition today marks the end of Christmastide: indeed the continental custom of leaving the crib in the church until this feast day is becoming more widespread. The Church reinforces the message of today’s Solemnity by using the prophet Malachi to help us see the significance of Jesus entering the Temple, and the letter to the Hebrews prepares our minds for the ultimate sacrifice, culminating in the passion and death which is the destiny of this child.
One way in which this Solemnity can come alive for us personally and as community of faith is to focus on Simeon and Anna, aged people who were in right place at the right time by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Simeon is exemplar of someone who has learnt to be patient, living in the hope that God will fulfill the ancient promises. Anna passes by at the key moment, like Simeon, prompted by the Spirit. They seized the opportunity to proclaim the truth and they point us in the direction of God’s saving presence among us. Like Simeon and Anna we can learn to be patient and attentive and wait for the promptings of the Spirit. We live in the wake of the 1st coming of Christ and continue to wait for His 2nd coming. Meanwhile, there is surely enough going on in our lives and the world around us for us to be able to recognize that, in the midst of all the pain and confusion, God continues to make God’s presence felt.
The theme of light has always been at the heart of today’s Solemnity, which is why from time immemorial Christians have celebrated it by processing with candles; hence its other title, Candlemass. Our parents and godparents were entrusted with a candle and the hope that we would: “keep the flame of faith alive.” Jesus reminded us, His followers, that we too are to be the light of the world! It will be sufficient if you and I, like Simeon and Anna, be attentive to be the promptings of the Spirit, recognizing the signs of God’s abiding presence and gently pointing these out to others.