The Presentation of The Lord – 02nd February 2025
Today, in union with the universal Church we celebrate The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. Today’s Feast takes place forty day after Christmas. And, it is in a way another ‘Epiphany’, another revelation of God’s presence and promise. Today is often called ‘Candlemas’ as people traditionally bring candles to church to be blessed.
In the gospel today we meet not one, but two prophets. What exactly was a prophet and what did they do? The Prophets were not those who were fortune tellers who could see into or tell the future; quite the opposite; they reminded people about their past.
They reminded people about that which they had forgotten and helped them to look forward to things that they had not yet considered. They reminded people that God had always been with them and that God would always be with them. Simeon and Anna remind and tell those listening that God has been faithful to the Covenant, they have not been forgotten; this child is the Messiah, the Promised and Chosen one of God.
Like John the Baptist, both Simeon and Anna have been called by God and filled with the Holy Spirit. They too will lead and point Jesus to others, not themselves. They too are preparing a way for the Lord and preparing others to meet the Messiah.