JESUS, OUR LIGHT

Feast of the Lord’s Presentation
Lk 2:22-40

Today’s feast is traditionally called “Candlemas” because candles are blest during Masses today. In countries with temperate climate, the Candlemas is a gentle feast of light in the darkness of winter. The liturgy reminds us of the Light that came into the world and became part of human history. That Light is Jesus whose birth we celebrated exactly forty days ago.

In some European countries, there is a custom to light the candles blest today when a storm threatens the people. Some Catholic Filipinos also have a similar custom. Of course, the candles do not calm the storm, but they remind the people that the Lord is with them through natural and personal storms.

Jesus is our Light. Today He is not only presented to God in the temple as prescribed by the Law of Moses; God reveals Jesus to us as the Light that no storm can put out. Let us keep this Light burning, storm or no storm.