Dear friends,
You would think after Christmas, the Church Calendar would be quiet for a while. It doesn`t seem to happen that way, there is the naming and circumcision of Jesus, Epiphany, Plough Sunday, the Baptism of Christ, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Conversion of St Paul, Holocaust Memorial Day and then on 2nd February, Candlemas.
Candlemas is one of my favourite festivals in the Church Year. Firstly I love candles and they are really important in church. We light candles to show that we are gathering to worship, at baptism we pass a candle to the family to show the passage from darkness to light, lit from the Pascal (Easter) candle.
Candlemas is when we remember Mary and Joseph going to the Temple in Jerusalem, 40 days after Jesus` birth, to make offerings to God and present Jesus at the Temple. It is the last great festival of Christmas before we start to look towards Lent. “When Christmas greets Easter on Candlemas day”
We celebrate the light of Christ in the world as we start to look ahead at the darkness of Lent and Good Friday. The candles remind us that darkness does not triumph. The light of Christ cannot be put out.
At Candlemas there would be blessing of candles with processions. A candle would be placed in someone`s hands with the words, “Lord now lettest though thy servant depart in peace.”
I also love Candlemas as we celebrate Anna and Simeon, two old people who had been waiting to meet the Messiah.
At the heart of the story, Old Simeon and Anna meet baby Jesus -An old weary world meets a new fresh light and they give testimony to who Jesus really is. Read the passage in Luke 2 verses 22-38
Simeon saw the baby and realised that the light had broken in – the curtains were being drawn back on a new way of being human and he says those words that we say in the Nunc Dimittis, “ Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace <span style="font-size: 1rem;">according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen the salvation, to be a light to lighten the gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.” He also predicted great pain.</span>
As Simeon withdrew from the scene, presumably to die a fulfilled man, Anna steps forward and speaks to anyone, telling them that God was on the move.
These two individuals highlight the love that God has for older people, in a world that doesn`t always show it, but older people matter and have an incredible impact on our lives. Age is no barrier to Christian Service – God sets no retirement age.
My life and our Church life is incredibly enriched by the older people and this should be celebrated.
Ireneas, the early Church Father, said that the Glory of God is a life fully lived, when I look at older people, I see the Glory of God, through their love, energy and commitment to Him.
On 6<sup>th</sup> February this year, we will celebrate the Accession of Queen Elizabeth to the throne 70 years ago and to leave with words of Her Majesty,
“I know just how much I rely on my faith to guide me through the good times and the bad. Each day is a new beginning. I know that the only way to live my life is to try and do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings and to put my trust in God...I draw strength from the message of hope in the Christian Gospel”
With prayers and blessings Christina