Candlemas

 

 A Sonnet by  Malcom Guite: Candlemas

 

They came, as called, according to the Law.

Though they were poor and had to keep things simple,

They moved in grace, in quietness, in awe,

For God was coming with them to His temple.

Amidst the outer court’s commercial bustle

They’d waited hours, enduring shouts and shoves,

Buyers and sellers, sensing one more hustle,

Had made a killing on the two young doves.

They come at last with us to Candlemas

And keep the day the prophecies came true

We glimpse with them, amidst our busyness,

The peace that Simeon and Anna knew.

For Candlemas still keeps His kindled light,

Against the dark our Saviour’s face is bright.

 

The feast of Candlemas that we celebrate today comes at a significant time in our country’s struggle with the pandemic. On Tuesday we marked and passed the heartbreaking number of one hundred thousand lives lost in this country and over two million worldwide. ‘Who can compute the sorrow?’ our Prime Minister asked, which, although an unusual turn of phrase, as his vocabulary often is, focused attention on the countless people who are also grieving loved ones who have died. I am not at all sure that sorrow – or joy – can be computed, but I imagine that only a computer could quantify the sheer human cost if it could somehow be assessed on a spreadsheet of miserable graphs as on the “next slide please” brought forward by the well-meaning Professor Chris Whitty.

Candlemas marks the end of the season of Epiphany, this bittersweet celebration reflects on the sadness and hope of the characters in the story. Anna had been a widow for over seventy years, a long time to be alone and waiting – who can compute her sorrow? - Simeon, also a great age patiently going to the temple, daily looking forward to the Messiah; Mary for whom this would have been a great and joyful occasion presenting her child to God in the temple, hearing how Jesus was destined to cause division amongst his own people and to die. The hope of the season of Epiphany and its revelation of the light of the world now turns towards the road to the cross. The cross points through death to the hope of resurrection, a glory yet to be known, good news for all people.               

In the service the blessing of candles or our lights in our houses expresses the hope of the light of Christ permeating that darkness, overcoming death, suffering …