February 2 is the Feast of the Presentation. It is a Feast Day that commemorates Mary and Joseph presenting the baby Jesus at the Temple 40 days after his birth–as required by the Torah. As Feasts go, the Presentation ranks pretty high. It even takes precedence of a Sunday celebration. This year, February 2 is a Sunday and, therefore, our churches will celebrate the Presentation.
The Presentation is sometimes called “Candlemas” due to the tradition of blessing candles for the altar at the celebration. This tradition grew out of the song of Simeon (Luke 2:25-32). The words of Simeon have various translations, but I am fond of the version in the Prayer Book found in our Evening Prayer Service (BCP page 120):
“Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Those of us who know the Light of Christ, who embrace and hold fast to the hope that is ours in Jesus, are invited to go, like Simeon, in Peace. Although for Simeon the recognition of Jesus as the Savior and Light of the world was received as his hope for a peaceful death, the same hope is ours for a peaceful and transformative life.
The Light of Christ our Savior calls us to live in Peace as disciples who reflect this Light. We are called to be disciples of peace.
This doesn’t mean being pushovers or quiet conformists. It means seeing the world, our communities, and our relationships in the Light of Jesus. It means shining His light into every darkness, especially the darkness of sin: sin which cloaks the world in the darkness of hate, oppression, selfishness, greed, anger, and cruelty.
Let us go in Peace as God has promised. For our eyes have seen the Savior whom God has prepared for all the world to see: A LIght to enlighten the nations.
I was reminded how we, as disciples of the Light of Christ, can go in Peace. It is to live deeply into the words of our Baptismal Covenant: To be people of prayer and genuine fellowship; to be people who resist evil (in ourselves and others); to be people who repent and return time and again to the Lord for our hope and renewal; to be a people of Good News in Christ and not cruel judgment in our self-interest. But perhaps most important of all, we are a people who go in Peace when we seek to serve Christ in all persons; when we love neighbor as self; and when we strive for justice and peace among all people (ALL people), and respect the dignity of every human being.