in a room filled with the smoke of incense, i leave the candles burning on the altar for a long time. there is a lot going on this night, and i want to savour it. we have celebrated the consolation of israel, the coming of the messiah, recognized by the prophet simeon and the prophetess anna, proof that there were those in israel who recognized their glory. this feast is the hinge between the completion of the old testament and the beginning of the new.the presentation of our lord in the temple is also the hinge feast between christmas and easter. it is a bittersweet time. amidst the joy of the meeting of mary, carrying the infant lord, and joseph with simeon and anna, after simeon sings of the light to the gentiles, the glory of israel, represented in our procession around the chapel with blessed candles, comes the chilling line in the gospel, spoken by simeon to mary, "yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also."
"also."
the mass of candles: the light of the world will truly be extinguished. john will mention tht darkness in his gospel, saying simply, "it was night." (13:30) we will represent that darkness again with candles, during holy week at tenebrae. what we remember in this candlemass in what we remember in all our eucharists: "as oft as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the lord's death till he come."
"even so, come, lord jesus."
1 comment:
this is beautiful, dale. and helpful to me in making the connection between candlemas and easter. thank you! and do you recommend a version of the presentation icon? i'd love to get one for next year.
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