Candlemas

Yes, it's one of those days that just sounds strange and liturgical: Candlemas. I actually had to look this one up and it's the day that marks the end of the epiphany season and it celebrates the dedication of Christ in the Temple.

This is one of those parts of the Christmas story that gets (unfairly) glossed over. Even the relatively recent The Nativity Story forgets to put in this significant event. As Luke tells it, Christ was brought to the Temple to be circumcised and after the ceremonies, Mary and Joseph were met by Simeon, a righteous man who had been promised that before he died he would see the Messiah. Here we have a man who has been waiting patiently in faith so that when he sees Jesus he can praise God and say, "Now your servant can die in peace."

The Holy Family is also met by Anna, a prophetess who had also been expecting the Messiah. These two people, Simeon and Anna, show that even in a nation that had become blinded by legalism and politicization of religion, there were still individuals who remained faithful and kept their focus on grace rather than law and on the faithfulness of God rather than the promises of political leaders.

~Roccondil