The feast of Candlemas falls exactly forty days after Christmas, so always on 2nd February. Three things come together today.
First, for Mary, forty days was the period during which, as a new mother, she must stay away from the temple. The Old Testament Law tells us that after the birth of a Son, the mother was ritually unclean for seven days and must stay away from holy things for a further thirty-three days thus making forty in all. See Leviticus 12:1-5. This was to be doubled up following the birth of a daughter.
Second, ancient ceremonial law required special celebrations following the birth of a first born Son, as in Exodus 13:1-16. Today we have as our set reading the passage from Luke 2:22-40 in which Jesus is presented in the Temple; Anna and Simeon express their joy at the fulfilment of hope and Mary and Joseph are amazed.
Thirdly, in a relatively more recent tradition, in this season of Light, people brought their candles to church to be blessed. Originally Pope Sergius I established this as a Feast Day with a procession that subsequently took on a penitential character.
Mary’s immediate work as child bearer was complete; Simeon saw that his life of waiting was vindicated, as he had seen salvation; but for the child Jesus, light of the world, all that would be done was ahead of him.
For us, candles and feast days or not, our days are lengthening. It is far too early to predict the weather as anything can happen until the end of March at least, but we certainly do have all the hope of bureoning spring and summer around the corner.
A Prayer
Lord, help us to use well these winter days. We are thankful for all we have done, all we have seen and realised, but we pray for grace and strength to complete all that we will do as we grow in faith. Love and service. Amen.