Candelmas

Gospel

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

ACCORDING TO LUKE

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed - and a sword will pierce your own soul too." There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

LUKE 2:22-40

Sermon: By The Rev. Dr. Maryann Amor

The Temple is loud, filled with people; the smoke from the burnt offerings overpowers all your senses. Amidst the noise and movement, a young mother steps forward, cradling her infant. Although many families come to this building every day, this is not an ordinary visit. This mother comes to fulfill an ancient ritual—her own purification and the dedication of her child. These traditions, these kinds of moments have played out for generations, but today, something is different.

As she and her husband make their way deeper into the Temple, two elderly figures suddenly emerge. Their eyes shine with wonder—something is happening, something they have been waiting for. Simeon and Anna have spent a lifetime praying for this and here it is…this baby is not just any baby. He is the one. He is the light breaking into their darkness.

Today, we gather to celebrate this moment—known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, also called Candlemas. In some Christian traditions, people bring the candles they will use in their homes throughout the year to be blessed, a reminder of Christ’s light. Since fire regulations—and our insurance provider—might be really made at us for lighting a bunch of candles, I have tried to symbolise this light with the LED candles around the altar. Even though they are not real flames, they still point us to the truth we celebrate: on this feast day, we reflect on light, on hope, and on what it means to wait faithfully for God to fulfill God’s promises.

It is no coincidence that Candlemas falls when winter is half over. The long nights are slowly shortening. The light lingers a little longer on the horizon. And so, today, in defiance of the cold and darkness that still cling to the world, we turn our hearts and minds toward the light of Christ.

Now, I know we have heard this message before: waiting for the light in the darkness. Advent, Lent—again and again, the Christian year calls us to wait. I confess, I know I’ve preached this theme before and I wasn’t super keen to preach it again. But I wonder if maybe all of this repetition is necessary. Maybe we need the reminder, over and over, that waiting for light is at the heart of our faith.

Because, as I know I have said before, darkness can feel overwhelming. Fear, uncertainty, and waiting can weigh us down. So we need to hear, again and again, that the light is coming. The light Simeon saw, the light Anna proclaimed, the light that breaks through and gives us hope.

Simeon and Anna were likely in their late 80s or 90s. They had waited in the Temple for decades, longing for a sign of God’s faithfulness. But their waiting was not passive. It was not like being stuck on hold with someone like Telus or Eastlink, listening to annoying muzak and hoping, just hoping, someone will eventually pick up the phone. No, their waiting was filled with action—prayer, service, faith. They lived fully in expectation and faith—deep in their souls, they knew that God was at work, even when they could not see it.

And doing this, living in this way, is really hard. Waiting for justice in our world, reconciliation in broken relationships, or resolution in our personal struggles—it is heavy, difficult work. Hope fades when waiting drags on and on.

But, Simeon and Anna show us what it means to trust in God's faithfulness. They keep going. They keep praying. They keep believing. And their faithfulness is rewarded—not with something big and shiny, but with the quiet presence of a tiny infant. God’s work often begins in the most unexpected, humble ways.

On this Feast of Candlemas, we are invited to do two things: to look for the light and to reflect it. Simeon calls Jesus “a light for revelation to the Gentiles,” and Anna does not keep this good news to herself—she shares it with all who will listen. We, too, are called to bear the light of Christ in a world that often feels dark.

We know how easy it is to be consumed by fear, especially in uncertain times. Many of us have watched events unfolding in the world with heavy hearts, anxious about what might happen next. In moments like these, we are called to look for the light.

One example of this light is the bishop who recently spoke with courage, urging mercy, hope, and compassion. At Donald Trump’s inauguration, she pleaded with him: “Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now… on those whose children fear that their parents will be taken away… and help those fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here.”

Her words remind us that light breaks into the darkness when we choose to speak, act, and hope—even when it feels dangerous or, maybe even, futile. And this is the light we are called to bear. Not in big, shiny, world-changing ways, but in the small things we might do every day: choosing hope when hopelessness is easier, praying when it feels like God is not listening, showing kindness in the face of hate, choosing to give rather than to live only for ourselves.

As we leave worship today, let us remember the light of Christ is not just something we wait for, but it is also something we carry. Simeon and Anna waited decades for a glimpse of God’s light, and their story reminds us that even in the waiting, God is faithful, and God responds. Candlemas, the light of candles—even LED ones—reminds us that the darkness will never overcome the light. Embrace renewed hope. Look for the light. Reflect it in all you do. And may the light of Christ guide you, comfort you, and shine through you, now and always.

Amen.