Not mere objects but living candles
of Christ the light
February 2nd, 2021
Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
Meditation of the day of Pontiff Samuel
(Draft)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Dear brothers and dear sisters, today all together we live the feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. Forty days after his birth, Jesus is presented in the temple by St Joseph and Mary Most Holy, as prescribed by the Jewish law, according to which all observant families had to consecrate their first-born male child to the Lord, on the day of the purification of his mother, considered by the same Jewish law to be impure after childbirth.
Mary, the all-pure, the Masterpiece of God, although absolutely not in need to be purified, has prostrated herself with living humility to the law of men, fulfilling every precept, together with Joseph her holy and chaste husband, even on this occasion giving holy witness of the human righteousness that characterised the holy Family and that must be embodied by every Christian family upon their example.
Christians live the day of Candlemas – known as such in the popular parlance – with great joy and renewed hope, which has become certainty in the New Jerusalem. The light, that is Christ the Lord, that enlightens all nations and that was recognised then by the prophet Simeon (who in his canticle praises the Father for having been able to see Jesus Christ, the Messiah, before dying), has now again descended from Heaven to this Land of Love. And on the example of the prophet Simeon, all the new Christians praise the Father for having seen with the eyes of faith, the fulfilment of the divine promises.
Jesus has once again returned to this Earth in the guise of a Child, to allow all those who have welcomed Him, are welcoming and will welcome Him in Spirit and Truth, to become adults in faith, to be born again from Above and to become eternal children in heart, soul and spirit, so to bring Christ the Light of all peoples, to the whole world, by becoming flaming torches, living candles of the Light that is Christ, for having been called to enlighten anew the path of the Christians of yesterday and of all those who are animated by goodwill, proclaiming the joyful tidings renewed in Christ and Mary, in the One and Triune God.
Here is the living blessing that today descends copiously and abundantly from Heaven upon all God’s sons. Not upon candles whose mere job is to bring light, but upon living beings: the sons and daughters of God, called to become flaming torches to bring Christ, the living Light; to bring Christ, the Love made Person.
Here is the Christian news that is increasingly unfolding and making itself known to the world of goodwill. Here is this Church animated by the Holy Spirit, that does not abrogate what is past, namely the precepts and the holy liturgy, but actualises it, renewing and revitalising it, bringing everything back to what is Spirit, for the triumph of the Truth and the victory of Christ.
In union with Jesus, St Joseph and Mary, let us repeat today the canticle of the prophet Simeon, praising You, God the Father Almighty, for having allowed us to see salvation, prepared by You ahead of all peoples: Light to enlighten the nations and glory of Your people Israel, the new Israel of God, that with You lives and will reign for ever and ever. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.