A Bright World (Presentation of the Lord)

Perry Como’s rendition of Joseph Maloy Roach’s “One Little Candle” is a joy to sing along with:

It is better to light just one little candle,
Than to stumble in the dark!
Better far that you light just one little candle,
All you need's a tiny spark!

If we'd all say a prayer that the world would be free,
The wonderful dawn of a new day we'll see!
And, if everyone lit just one little candle,
What a bright world this would be!

Lighting a candle represent a lot of things to many people.  But mostly, as a symbolic act, it expresses optimism and hope especially during trying moments. The Chinese proverb, for instance, has it this way: “It is better to a light a candle than to curse the darkness.”  A candle represents a small answer to a serious problem of darkness, but it is a positive step in the right direction, far better than just bemoaning the situation.

For Christians, however, there is a deeper meaning to this practice of lighting a candle. Today’s Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas or Candelaria, reminds us of the context wherein this practice draws its meaning.

The gospel reading (Lk 2:22-40) recounts the event when the infant Jesus was presented by Joseph and Mary to the temple in obedience to the Law of Moses.  According to Jewish law, the firstborn male child belonged to God, and the parents had to "buy him back" on the 40th day after his birth, by offering a sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons in the temple. On that same day, the mother would be ritually purified, hence, today’s feast is also known as the Feast of the Purification of Mary.

The event of Jesus’ presentation became a moment of the manifestation of the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation. The Oracle of Malachi in the first reading (Mal 3:1-4) is fulfilled: “Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek…” (v. 1).  And in the gospel, a righteous and devout man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who had been awaiting the salvation of Israel, came and took the infant Jesus into his arms and blessed God for the fulfillment of His promise:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for the revelation to the gentiles, and glory for your people Israel” (Lk 2:29-32).

Inspired by the words of the canticle—“a light for the revelation to the Gentiles”—by the 11th century, the custom of blessing candles on this feast had developed in the West. The candles were then lit, and while the Canticle of Simeon was sung, a procession took place through the darkened church.  Henceforth, the feast became known as Candlemas.

Hence, for the Church, today’s feast is a day of hope and light. Lighting a candle is, for us, a reminder that the Lord, as the Light of the World, is our salvation from the darkness of sin.

Here, I would like to invite all to make as our own the dispositions of the significant characters present in the event of Jesus’ presentation to the Temple as we light a candle: Simeon’s peaceful confidence, Anna’s thanksgiving, and Joseph and Mary’s amazement. 

Peaceful confidence.  Simeon witnessed with his own eyes the dawn of salvation in Jesus Christ. This prepared him to retire in peaceful confidence that everything was going to be fine. When we are lonely, troubled, anxious, discouraged by our sins, undergoing a trying moment, we may light a candle and be reassured that the Lord is always with us in our trials. Let the lighted candle remind us that Jesus is our salvation. Let this reassure us that everything is going to fine.

Thanksgiving. The prophetess Anna, after years of waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem, came forward already advanced in years and “she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child…” (Lk. 2:38). We have many reasons to thank the Lord. Even those in the worst of situations still find many reasons to give thanks.  And when we have aged, we see the whole of our lives as God’s gift. When our hearts are filled with gratitude, we may light a candle acknowledging the providence of our Lord.

Amazement.  “The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him” (Lk 2:33). Joseph and Mary are our models in terms of expressing awe and amazement over the work of redemption in Jesus Christ. God’s goodness in our life is marvelous. As we praise and worship Him for the marvel He has done, we may light a candle expressing our own amazement for the greatness of His love.

So, today, let us have our candles blessed and light one in peaceful confidence or in gratitude or in amazement over God’s wonderful work of redemption in Jesus.

“And if everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be!”