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Last Monday was the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ. It is a cherished Christian feast day in the Anglican tradition, also known as Candlemas. On this day, we celebrate the presentation of the baby Jesus in the Temple, 40 days after his birth, in accordance with Jewish custom. Often, the church prepares candles for the year ahead and blesses them. It is a beautiful symbolic act highlighting Jesus’ identity as the Light of the World.

This ritual traces its roots to the Exodus, when the firstborn of Israel were spared during the final plague in Egypt. In this way, it commemorates God’s salvation and dedicates the firstborn child as holy to the Lord.

Yet, as we reflect on Jesus’ divinity as the Son of God, just as in his baptism, he had no need for redemption through these rituals. Rather, his participation invites us to renew and restore our own human response. For instance, through Jesus’ own baptism, that sacred rite becomes far more than cleansing from sin; it affirms our new identity as children of God, united with what Jesus revealed in his baptism.

In the same light, before Jesus’ presentation, it was a ritual of recognizing God’s saving intervention, but now by Jesus being part of this ritual, it opens up a deeper meaning of our action in relation to Jesus. Through his life and death, Jesus was always mindful of his identity and mission in his relationship with the Father and the Spirit. It is the same for us. When we present to God what He has spared for us, it transcends mere thanksgiving; we are reminded that all we offer glorifies God, for He has shown that we are precious to Him.

In this sacred exchange of receiving and offering whatever we bring before God, we deepen our relationship with Him as Jesus showed to us, and we shine as lights in the world, following Christ.

May your life always be guided by the Light of the World, shining ever brighter amid the darkness. Amen.

From Fr. James