Saturday, February 2, 2008

Candlemas

Luke 2:22-32

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of The Lord. 

Today we commemorate the introduction of Jesus into the temple and the purification of his mother according to the Mosaic Law.  Here Mary offers turtledoves for her purification and Jesus is consecrated to God.  

This feast reminds us that just as Jesus is introduced into the Temple for the first time and becomes a light for the world according to Simeon so to at our Baptism Jesus is introduced into the temple of our bodies and his light begins to shine through us. 

Receive the light of Christ...these words are spoken at our baptism and must echo throughout our days and nights as we bring that light to the world.  

On this day we bless the candles used at the liturgy reminding ourselves that every light that burns is a sign of the one true light that can never be extinguished.

Yet, the greatest candle is not made of beeswax; no, the greatest candle is made of flesh and bone and blood...it is the light of our life that burns the brightest.

Receive the light of Christ...may this light be kept burning brightly...what gives light must endure burning!

May this feast give us the fuel of courage and faith so that through our lives we might light up the darkness and bring forth the radiance of the face of Christ... the glory of God is seen in the face of Christ which shines through us. 






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