Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Christ, through his "entering the world", meets all people. Through the mediation of Jesus, Mary and St. Joseph - in the meeting in the temple in Jerusalem - "the omnipresence of God with the people and with the people among themselves" was "accomplished".
The content of the feast of the Presentation of the Lord is profound: Christ the Lord enters the temple to emphasize that the priesthood of the Old Covenant ends, and a new priesthood begins in him and through him, and a new, supreme and most perfect Sacrifice, which He began today with the act of offering himself to the heavenly Father in the temple.
When we turn to Sacred Scripture, we encounter the Gospel scene according to St. Luke (cf. 2: 22-32) describing the presentation of Jesus in the temple. We are reminded of this event not only by the liturgy of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, but also by the fourth mystery of the first part of the rosary. In the liturgy of the East, this celebration is called Hypapante, that is, the Feast of Meeting. Hypapante, deeply rooted in the Old Testament tradition, was associated with gratitude for saving the firstborn sons of Israel in Egypt. The Mosaic Law required that on the 40th day after the birth of a descendant, the legitimate father redeemed him by placing 5 "holy" shekels in the temple. We also find another name for this holiday: Candelora (English: Candlemas) - the festival of light. If we combine the names Hypapante and Candelora, we get a beautiful symbol of meeting connected with light.
From the years 1000, the custom of blessing candles and processions on this occasion was introduced in remembrance of the fact that Simon called Christ the Lord "a light for the revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel." (Lk 2:32). Christ himself will explain the symbolism of the lights when he calls himself "the light of the world".
This symbolism was especially exposed in the first centuries of Christianity, when services were held at night and when there was no other light. The Catholic Church reminds us at every step that Christ the Lord is our light, that without Christ we would all be in the deepest darkness of ignorance and death. Being himself light, Christ also communicates his light to us and shares it with us: through his teaching and the divine life which he pours into our souls. The most solemn moment of the apotheosis of Christ as the light that enlightens the nations is the solemn rite of the blessing of the Easter Paschal on Holy Saturday and the beautiful hymn: the Exsultet that the Church's Priests sing on this occasion as a gift of gratitude.
The liturgy of today's feast begins with the rite of blessing the candles and the procession with them for the solemn celebration of the Eucharist. The priest says the prayer in which he asks that "all who have gathered in this temple with burning candles, may one day see the splendor of Christ's glory". This reference to the meeting with the Lord in eternity and today's Gospel about the meeting with Someone, they signify that the candles blessed on February 2 are given to the dying.
The Light of the Risen One
Christ is the light of the world: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (cf. Jn 8:12). The gesture of lighting the candle is an expression of hope present in the heart of every person who does not want to be overcome by the approaching darkness but wants to live and walk the paths of the world. Man is not created for death, but for life, so his soul must awake from all drowsiness, as the Apostle reminds us: " Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light (cf. Eph. 5:14).
This light is an expression of energy, the will to live, the desire for fullness, community enthusiasm, overcoming all static and coldness. The flame, filling the space with its light, expresses warmth, the strength of life, overcoming loneliness, the gift of vitality, the way of life despite the difficulties of everyday life.
Baptized or enlightened
During the baptismal liturgy, the parent lights a candle from the Paschal candle so that the gift of faith in Christ who died and rose from the dead may never be extinguished in the child's heart, and that the child may go to meet the Lord when He comes in glory, as in the parable of the virgins (see Matt. 25,1-13). Lighting the light is an expression of accepting salvation and growing in it to be able to rejoice at the second coming of the Savior. During the rite of baptism, the parent, holds in his hand a lighted that will illuminate the life of the child, and emphasizes his own commitment to educate the newly baptized person in the light of the Lord's Passover.
We are the light
Lighting a candle means making a choice of life: only the Lord can enlighten our heart and determine the motives behind our choices. Only he is the traveling companion who illuminates our entire path. So, we light our candles during the procession to testify to the world that only the light of Christ can give meaning to our lives. Walking in the light comes from the belief that we are children of the light, as St. Paul said:
"The night is advanced; the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness [and] put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day (…) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Rom 13: 12-14). The lit candle, which illuminates the path of the community procession, shows how Jesus Christ enlightens the hearts of believers and dispels all darkness.
A sign of wakefulness
On the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Church begs, invoking the power of the Holy Spirit: "O most blessed Light divine, let Your radiance in us shine, and our inmost being fill."; "Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love." Lighting a candle expresses various feelings resonating in the soul, unites a common element: the joy of life and the joy of giving life.
The burning light contains the desire to raise the heart that prays to God and entrust itself completely to Him who is the only guarantor of life. Each lighted candle is the praise of life by a praying heart.
Lighting a candle is a sign that the Divine Spirit envelops us and offers us the opportunity to testify to the world about the power of the Most High. Therefore, lighting a candle becomes an expression of our conviction that Christ enlightens our whole person, so that we may walk through life with hope, waiting for the day that never sets.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george