Presentation of Our Lord (transferred), Luke 2:22-40

February 4, 2024 

Faith-La Fe Lutheran Church, Pastor Jonathan Linman

I begin with a word about what we celebrate today: the festival of the Presentation of Our Lord commemorates, as we just heard in the gospel reading, the event of Jesus being presented by his parents, dedicating him to God, in the Jerusalem temple according to Jewish custom forty days after his birth (for us, forty days after Christmas). This public appearance at the holy temple, the focal point of ancient Judaism, revealed Jesus to God’s own people and as a light to the nations. 

With the theme of light in mind, this day is also known as Candlemas – or Candle Mass – when the new year’s candles are blessed. Thus, we began this service with a rite for blessing of candles for use here at church and in your homes.

As a liturgical festival, Presentation dates from the end of the fourth century. This festival came to include a procession of lighted candles into the church, even as Christ, the light of the world, was presented and publicly revealed in procession in the temple at Jerusalem.

Thus, the presentation of Jesus in the temple is in keeping with this season after Epiphany, which is really a series of Sundays of many epiphanies as we hear again bible stories which reveal more and more about the true identity of Jesus. 

Today’s epiphany focuses specifically on the revelation of Jesus to the ancient prophets, Simeon and Anna. So, let’s delve into the details of that encounter as described by Luke. Considering the particulars of this holy encounter between the holy family and Simeon, I have good news and bad news. 

I’ll tell you the good news first, and it’s summed up in the song of Simeon, commonly known by the Latin, nunc dimittis: Here’s what Luke records that Simeon proclaimed upon seeing Jesus: “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 

Here, Simeon reveals that God’s promise to him has been fulfilled, that he would not die before seeing with his own eyes God’s chosen one, the Messiah. The appearance of Jesus is an embodiment of God’s salvation in the presence of all peoples, yes, the people of Israel, but also Christ’s light as revelation for the Gentiles, that is, people of all nations. Such light and such glory make for good news in a world full of dark shadows and shame, the very opposite of glorious light.

So, that’s the good news. Now the bad news, again in the words of Simeon: “This child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 

Here, Simeon foreshadows how the nature of Jesus’ ministry of proclaiming the dominion of God, of speaking the truth to everyone, especially those in power, and healing people and exorcising demons, will have the effect of bringing down the powerful while lifting up the lowly. The light and truth of Jesus’ presence will expose the falsehoods that lurk in the night’s shadows of our hearts and minds. And directing hard words to Mary, Jesus’ mother, Simeon also calls attention to how Jesus’ earthly life will end in suffering, sorrow, and death – “and a sword will pierce your own soul too,” Simeon says to Mary.

That’s bad news for the powerful and deceitful. It’s bad news for Mary as a mom who loves her son. And it’s sorrow for Jesus, our “merciful and faithful high priest” who on the cross in the “service of God” made a “sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people” as we heard in today’s second reading (cf. Hebrews 2:17).

But this bad news ultimately also brings more good news. In fact, the bad news of Jesus’ death becomes the world’s most profound good news. In Jesus’ death and his subsequent resurrection, it is revealed that the light of Christ cannot be extinguished. The light shines forever, still introducing light wherever it’s needed to expose sin and to eradicate that darkness such that all people, even oppressors, can be given light and life and freedom and salvation. Thanks be to God.

So, the festival of the Presentation of Our Lord joins Christmas and Easter, and links Bethlehem with Jerusalem, and weds the manger to the cross and empty tomb.

And the long and the short of it is that today we celebrate once again the light of Christ in and for the world. The light of Christ is here in our church, candlelight always illuminating our proclamation of the Word and celebration of the sacraments. It’s here, Sunday after Sunday that the words of the prophet Malachi are fulfilled in our hearing and before our faces: “the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple.” (Malachi 3:1a)

But as we celebrate the song of Simeon this day, let’s not forget about the prophetess Anna. Her role is essential in that she reveals what we are called to be and to do once we, too, like her, have received the light of Christ and are given the gift of faith. 

Luke tells us that Anna, upon witnessing Simeon’s proclamation of the child Jesus as the Christ, “began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38)

That’s our calling, folks! To praise God in our worship and in our lives. And to speak to all in our acquaintance about Christ, the light to the nations and the redeemer not just of Jerusalem, but of the whole world. 

An early saint of the church, St. Sophronius, preached a sermon on the Presentation in the 7th Century, a passage from which sums up our calling to be like Anna in our words and deeds. Sophronius proclaimed: “Everyone should be eager to join the procession and to carry a light. Our lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendor of the one [Jesus Christ] who comes to expel the dark shadows of evil and to make the whole universe radiant with the brilliance of his eternal light. Our candles also show how bright our souls [are] when we go to meet Christ….” (quoted in Pfatteicher, 71).

By the power of the Spirit that inspired both Simenon and Anna, we become living candles in our words and deeds, sources of illumination that ever reveal the light of Christ in our world of shadows. 

And know this, too: when you take your blessed candles home, the light of Christ goes with you and is likewise revealed in your own homes to lighten the shadows that bring you trouble and grief, to warm your hearts and hearths, that you may ever bask in the sacred glow of our Lord and Savior. Thanks to God for the light of Christ that is never extinguished! Amen.