Feast of the Presentation of Christ at the Temple

 

Christmas is over.  Granted, it has felt over for a long time.  Well, at least for me.  Apparently not to those who still have their Christmas lights up, but...  The Christmas season actually just ended today, though, for February 2nd is 40 days past Nativity.  On this day, following Jewish law, Joseph and Mary brought the Christ child to the temple for presentation.  The law stated that all firstborn males must be dedicated to the Lord, and women also had to appear to be purified of their ritual uncleanness from childbearing.

So, we have this feast, called Candlemas in the West.  In the East, we call it either the Meeting of the Lord or the Presentation of the Lord at the Temple.  Not the most famous of feasts, but I like this one a lot.  

We are reminded of the story of the righteous Simeon, who had been told that he would not die until he saw the Messiah.  The poor man was incredibly old, and the end of his life probably didn't sound like too bad of an idea.  Simeon was ready to go, but he had yet to meet his Lord.  When he came out and saw Christ, he sang the song from Luke 2 that we sing at every Vespers service:

"Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word, 

for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people.  

A light to enlighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel."

The church fathers and hymnographers can't seem to agree whether this is a feast of Christ or the Theotokos.  It's not either/or.  It's both/and.  Did Christ have to deign to follow Jewish law and be presented at the temple?  No, but He did, so all could see that the Messiah had arrived not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it.  Did Joseph and the Theotokos have to keep the Law and treat Him like any other baby?  No, but they did, and through their actions, they show us that we should keep our vows to God.  On this day, we praise both the child who was the gift and the mother who made the offering. 

It's traditional to bless candles at this feast.  Just like we bless fruit on Transfiguration at harvest time, we bless candles in February when they were probably traditionally made.  The candles take on a meaning more than just a product of quiet, winter days, when the priest prays that not only will these blessed candles be brought home and lit, but that when we take those candles outside the church, we will also carry the fire of the Holy Spirit.  The Light has come into the world through this child, may we all be enlightened!  What better way to show that yearning for the Messiah than to light a candle?   The Holy Spirit is a fire that burns with a clear and true flame.  There can never be too many candles to light the darkness of our sin.  Christ is our salvation, and every light proclaims it.

For the past two years, our parish has celebrated Godparents' Day on the Sunday closest to this feast.  When I was going through some old papers, I found that our parish had observed a day of remembrance for godparents in the past, but the tradition had fallen away.  It was definitely something I wanted to bring back, so I looked at the calendar and tried to think of when a good time would be.  After some thought, I knew it had to be at the feast of the Presentation of the Lord.  At baptism, the godparents also present a child.  They are the voice of the baby who can't speak for himself.  They say the words of declaration of our faith.  They offer the child to Christ, but they don't walk away.  They also make the commitment to pray for that child for the rest of their lives.  To nurture that child in the faith.  To be a spiritual parent.  Remembering that moment on this feast is fitting and true.

Since it's also a chance to bless candles, all the children of our parish decorate candles to be blessed and given to their godparents.  That candle can be lit throughout the year at special times.  I also brought some taper candles to be blessed for our family's use.  We'll light them on feast days, namedays, etc.  Anytime I can show the kids that there's a tangible and literal way to bring the church home with us, I jump at the chance.  They might not remember all the theology, but they're Orthodox kids...they know about fire! 

Additionally, we prayed for all those godparents and godchildren connected to our families.  Those who have passed away.  Those who have left the faith.  Those with whom we didn't have quite the relationship we would have wished.  For all of them we pray, and we remember a child, a mother, and a much-anticipated gift that was worth the wait.  

Let the gate of heaven be opened today,

For He who is without beginning, the Word of the Father

Has made a beginning in time forsaking His divinity

And as a Babe forty days old

He is, of His own will, brought by the Virgin His Mother

As an offering in the temple of the Law.

The Elder received Him in his arms,

Crying as a servant to the Master,

"Let me depart, for my eyes have seen Your salvation,"

Glory to You, O Lord, Who came into the world to save mankind.

----from Vespers for the feast; Tone 6