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| The Presentation of
The Lord (Candlemas) |
Significance
Every year on February 2nd, Christians celebrate
the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ to the Temple. Also known as the
Christian festival of Candlemas, its celebration symbolizes the arrival of Jesus
Christ as the light and sign of hope beyond death and guidance to the world.
It is also known for the meeting of the holy man from Israel, Simeon and Jesus,
and represents the passing of one generation into a new one (brought in by Jesus
Christ).
History
The law of God in the form of the Old Testament of the
Holy Bible, given by Prophet Moses to the Jews, ordained that after childbirth
depending on whether a son or a daughter is born, a woman should refrain from
appearing in public for 40 or 80 days respectively. This was done to prevent
the spiritual pollution of the society from the increased raja-tama impurity
arising in the mother for the said period after childbirth. The woman could cleanse
these impurities at the end of the said period by bringing to the temple a lamb
and a young pigeon or turtle-dove, as an offering to be sacrificed at the hands
of a priest to God. A dove was required of everyone as an offering, but as the
lamb might be too expensive for some, they were allowed to substitute it with
a second dove.
Thus, after the birth of Jesus Christ, the holy Mary
and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, where He was blessed by an old, holy
man, Simeon. Simeon and Anna were two devout and faithful Israelites, who had
been waiting in the temple for the Savior and as they saw Jesus they received
divine inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Hence, Simeon recognized Jesus as The
Christ, The Messiah, and prophesied that Jesus was not only for the glory of
the Jews in Israel, but also would be a guide to all.
Method of celebration
Luke in the New Testament of the Holy Bible (Luke 2:21-38)
places emphasis on the presentation ceremony of Jesus in the temple, when Jesus
was recognized as the promised Savior of Israel.
The feast of the presentation on Jesus is observed with
a candle-lit, solemn procession, signifying the entry of Jesus Christ, Who is
the Light of the world, into the temple of Jerusalem. It forms an essential part
of the liturgical (worship) services in church on the day. The bright candlelight
is meant to be a tangible reminder of the true light, which for and beyond all
time, radiates from The Lord.
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