This is the last Sunday of Epiphany (Revelation) as we come to the end of the Christmas Season. It was traditionally the Sunday when the Church blessed its candles for the year ahead, known as Candlemas and celebrated by the lighting of candles.

A candle is a simple commodity but even the smallest candle lights up the darkness. Advent candles reminded us that the patriarchs and prophets prepared the way for Jesus, the light of the world. So the Christmas season begins and ends with candles.

In our Gospel Reading Luke tells of the Presentation of the baby Jesus and Purification of Mary in the Temple. This was a Jewish requirement of the law 40 days after the birth of a first born male to offer him to God and to give thanks.

Just as with the 5 Advent Candles we could think about each of the 5 characters in the story as candles of light as we move forward out of Epiphany.

Simeon was righteous and devout and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah and he had been waiting. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts on this day, held the baby Jesus and spoke the words known as the Nunc Dimittus meaning ‘now you let depart’. He was able to let go of his life, knowing he had seen the Messiah. He expressed thanks and left us his song! Jesus’ father and mother were speechless with surprise at his words.

Anna a prophetess, had been waiting around the temple in the dark for 60 years, worshipping, fasting and praying. When nothing made sense, when each day seemed the same. She now sees the light! When we are in the dark and we do not see the light we need faith and trust to know it’s there. Coming up to the Holy Family she gives thanks to God, recognises and prophesies about the child who will bring light to the world.

Mary lets go of her baby because the first born belongs to God. To love is to let go to allow the person to be free. At his arrest and crucifixion Mary had to let Jesus go. She pondered things in her heart. Mary had been visited by an angel, the shepherds, the Magi ! Simeon blesses Mary and tells her that a sword will piece her heart.

Joseph had to let go of his own perceptions, follow dreams and visions, take on a child who was not his, trusting in God’s revelations of light.

Jesus enters the temple as a babe in arms and his spirit brings in the light of revelation. According to the Hebrew covenant, the temple was where God could be found but under the new covenant of Christ our bodies become temples of the Holy Spirit. We too meet with Jesus in our hearts where he dwells if we let him in. He let go of his divinity to share in our humanity to bring light and revelation to our darkness.

Jesus brings the new covenant to love God and one another. The Temple was seen as the place where God’s feet are present but now Christ has his feet in us and his hands and mouth too! Our challenge is to let go of our own understanding, to trust in the Lord and encourage one another in our temples. As Quakers put it, to see that of God in everyone.

Let us let go of our own perceptions, wills and desires and take the mystery of the Christmas story with its visions, dreams, angels and stars with us into the year, as we leave Christmas behind. If we meet with and recognise Jesus as Simeon, Anna, Mary and Joseph did, like them we will receive spiritual gifts enabling us to perceive the light that shines in the darkness. Malachi foretold: ‘Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you’ve been looking for will enter his Temple, the Messenger of the Covenant, he will be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry, cleansing and purifying’.

Angela Stewart, Lay Minister