2 February 2021
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Today is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This feast is also known as the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, or, simply, Candlemas. Candles are traditionally blessed by the priest today, recalling the prayer of the prophet Simeon. When he saw the baby Jesus, Simeon called him: “a light for revelation for the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32). In other words, Simeon “saw the light,” and he understood that this light was destined to shine around the world. Christians recall this today while candles are blessed, distributed and lit, and then traditionally they have a procession. The purpose of this procession is to incantatory help the light of Christ to shine around the world.
Of course, the candles are only a symbol of the light of Christ. The real light of Christ is the brightness of pure truth subsisting in itself. It is a brightness far greater than the sun, such that no human eye could ever directly behold it. In this life, we see as in a mirror, darkly. We walk by faith and not by sight. The image of the baby Jesus in the arms of the prophet Simeon can stir our faith. So can the image of the blessing and procession with candles. That is why it is good to meditate on these images today, and ask for God’s light to shine upon us.