Candlemas Luke 2:22-40 Hebrews 2:14-endThe Presentation of Christ in the Temple concludes the season of Epiphany. The account in Luke’s Gospel may be familiar to you already: the child Jesus, who has been manifested to the magi at his birth, is now recognised by two people in the Temple: Simeon and Anna. Mary and Joseph have brought him to the Temple according to the Law. As Simeon proclaims, he is both a ‘light to the Gentiles and the glory of God’s people Israel’. It all sounds lovely, but of course, as we know, the redemption that Jesus is to bring, must be worked out through suffering. The joy of the Incarnation is pointing to the Passion; and the words of Simeon directed in particular to Jesus’ mother Mary take us from the celebration of Christmas to the Easter mystery. Traditionally, candles are taken to the local church to be blessed and then used for the rest of the year, to symbolise Jesus Christ as the Light of the world. It’s interesting: we use candles a lot in church and also in many homes, candles are lit. A soft flicker of light in the darkness, as a sign of hope. And it’s true: even one candle flame will make a difference in an otherwise dark environment, so that we can see where we are or where we are going. This is also about the meaning of light and especially the meaning of Jesus, the Light of the world.Simeon says, ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory of your people Israel.’ Now you are dismissing…. Now is the moment when I have truly seen. We talk about a light coming on, when we realise the truth of something. This was a lightbulb moment, as we would say these days. The Holy Spirit must have indicated to Simeon who this baby was. There will have been other babies too, with their parents, to do what the Law required. But this one stood out. Simeon recognised him and so did Anna, the prophet who was also there and began to praise God and speak about this child, and how he would be their Saviour. In the passage from the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 2, we find this described beautifully: ‘Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he [Jesus] himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, … and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.’ Death and darkness, both destroyed by the work of Jesus, the Light of the world. Candlemas is a symbolic moment when we are reminded of just how important the work of salvation has been for us. Yes, the world is a dark place for many right now. Time and again, we have seen how people have ‘lost it’, through hatred and greed and other selfish behaviour. It has led to war and climate change, and the end may not yet be in sight. The Light of the world has perhaps never been so important to us than right now. Now is the moment, then, for the world to really see, to recognise the infant who came to save us. What can we do to share his light to those who have not yet seen? How can we reflect his light to those in need? Perhaps we first need to absorb the light of Jesus ourselves, so that we can fully shine, by his grace, and dispel the darkness. It only takes one small light to change the situation. May we all, then, shine! Amen.
Third Sunday of Epiphany Luke 4:14-21 1 Corinthians 12:12-31aIn their wisdom, those who compile the lectionary for the church year, put today’s reading from 1 Corinthians 12 together with that from chapter 4 of Luke’s Gospel. It is not an immediately obvious connection, perhaps, but if you look closely, there certainly is one! It is all about the part prophecy plays in our story of faith. Context is important, because we would otherwise miss it! The passage from Luke 4 begins with: ‘Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.’ But how did he get there? At the beginning of chapter 4, Luke records Jesus’ time in the desert, where he was sent by the Holy Spirit, and where he was tempted by the devil. And going a little bit further back, even, we find that this was at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, after his baptism in the river Jordan, when God the Father spoke his words of affirmation: ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ And now we find him in the synagogue in Nazareth, his home town, reading from the prophet Isaiah. After he has read this particular passage, he says those remarkable words: ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ At first, the people are amazed and speak well of him, but the tide turns, when Jesus continues to speak, hinting at their unbelief at the words of the prophets. The situation becomes even critical but Jesus walks away unharmed.What are we to make of all that, then? Well, in 1 Corinthians 12, there is the mention of ‘varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit’; ‘varieties of services, but the same Lord’; and ‘varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.’ The people of Israel had been used to the prophets in the past; each speaking the word of God to their situation at the time. They would also sometimes speak of a time further on in the future, about the Messiah. Isaiah, one of the so-called Major Prophets, had this particular reference that Jesus read out in the synagogue: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ With Jesus then saying that this scripture has now been fulfilled, he reminds the people that this is what they have been waiting for all along. Jesus has a special task to perform, inspired by God himself. In other words, Jesus is working ‘in context’ and in line with God’s plan of salvation, set in motion a long time before. It may not be easy to grasp that particular part of it: that Jesus is the fulfilment of God’s will, and, full of the Holy Spirit, is working for the salvation of the world. Yet, that is what he is, because of who he is. At first, Jesus is commended by his hearers. But then, when he holds up a mirror to them, and points out their stubbornness, his life is threatened, and he has to leave even his hometown.So, what is our response, then, to hearing all this? Are we confident that we know how he is relating to us and to our needs? The congregation in the synagogue on that day were looking for Jesus to perform miracles, just like they had heard he did in Capernaum. It’s been so often the case: people saying that they will believe if they see a miracle, or if things turn out for them just as they want. But Jesus is not a performer, let alone an entertainer, although he has a sense of humour! He is much, much more than that. He is certainly a worker of miracles. And the greatest miracle is that he has come to show the depth of God’s love for us by dying for us, and defeating death on the third day at the resurrection. The promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus is the greatest miracle of all! May we not only believe that, but also fully grasp it, and live fully in that deepest joy! Amen.
Second Sunday of Epiphany John 2:1-11 Isaiah 62:1-5The wedding at Cana, the text says, is the first of Jesus’ signs, through which he revealed his glory. It was certainly spectacular, even though many of the guests didn’t have a clue. What they did notice, though, was the different – read, better – quality of the wine they were drinking! And that is the whole point. There are many strands we could take from this passage to focus on, but the point is that water was changed into wine. In other words, what was ‘commonplace’ as it were, had become special. We associate wine with a festive occasion, and water with everyday drink. We need water; there’s no doubt about that. It is so very basic to our existence. Our national beverage depends on it. It is the first thing that some cultures offer to a guest, so as to revive them in a hot climate. And it is even Jesus himself who refers to his own person as the Water of Life; not just like a liquid to avoid human bodies from being dehydrated, but as an essential ingredient to our existence in the spiritual sense for our souls, as we find for instance in the story of the encounter with a Samaritan woman at a well (John 4). So it is perfectly understood that we need both physical water and its spiritual counterpart in Jesus.However, here, in chapter 2 of John’s Gospel, the ordinary water had changed into extraordinary wine. It’s interesting to read the passage anew, to ponder the words that Mary spoke to Jesus and his response. Her, ‘They have no wine’, is met by his, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and me?’. Nevertheless, she then says to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Would she already know a thing or two about Jesus’ power to change a situation? Or did she think more in the line of Jesus organising a search party by his disciples, to go to the nearest wine cellar and buy more wine? We don’t know for sure. But we do know that Mary must have had a special bit of extra knowledge about her son anyway, what with the words of the angel Gabriel to her before Jesus was born, and other things that followed. And although Jesus doesn’t perform his ‘first sign’ straight away at his mother’s bidding, he does get on with it, and does something so different, so wonderful too, that the wedding is saved. What’s more, it says that the disciples believed in him through this.The point that water was changed into wine, though, is more relevant and important than that. Yes, it led to a favourable outcome for the wedding couple as well as for the guests and the faith of the disciples. But the very change of water into wine is significant in another sense as well and it may be helpful to remind ourselves of it. For that, I turn to the passage from the prophet Isaiah for today. This is about a change of fortune, a new name for what was forsaken and desolate for the people of Israel. There is the reference to a wedding: ‘For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.’ The symbolism of marriage is used to describe the change of the situation, to say in effect that ‘the old has gone, the new has come’. This passage also says, ‘You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.’ A real change, in the process of vindication and restoration, just like the work of Jesus was going to make to the lives of all who put their trust in him. We can read this account in John’s Gospel like a simple story, saying that, yes, okay, water was changed into wine and the wedding party were happy. But we could also read it as a message and a gift for us: Water was changed into wine!! And you know why: because Jesus was there; he made the difference. And we can taste his goodness, just like the people at the wedding, and perhaps even more so, because we know who he is. Amen.
Baptism of Christ Luke 3:15-17; 21-22 Isaiah 43:1-7‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.’ The prophet Isaiah speaks of redemption and salvation. The dangers that the people have been facing they will survive and those who were taken away from their homeland shall return. The Lord has promised and he will not delay. In Luke’s Gospel, we are told about the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. John had clearly said to the people that he himself was not the Christ and that he was not worthy even to untie his sandals. Then, when Jesus appeared on the scene and was baptised, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ This is the moment when Jesus begins his ministry, at about 30 years old. It is also another moment when his identity is revealed, and quite strongly too! God’s own voice speaking audibly and affirming his Son. The Baptism of Christ is also marked specifically in this Church season of Epiphany, and the reading from Isaiah is important in this respect, as it proclaims the salvation of the people. The reference to ‘the waters’ we can interpret in this context and also in that of the wider scope of God’s promise and work of salvation. Of course, we are reminded of the beginning of Genesis and the story of creation, when God’s Spirit ‘hovered over the waters’. Water is an image of chaos, of danger. But it is also essential to life. Life on earth is not possible without it! And, Jesus himself is the Water of Life in that meaning of life-giving and life-sustaining. But, the water of baptism is a reference to death. In baptism we go through death symbolically, to come out ‘at the other end’, as it were, renewed and more fully alive. And here we have the message for today: we, as human beings, are fallible and sinful, and without help we are already dead in a way, even while we are still alive. The word ‘sin’, as it has been said, has ‘I’ in the middle; in other words: we put ourselves at the centre of the universe far too often and therefore ‘miss the mark’, which is what ‘sin’ means. We are literally doomed in that way, as there is no way we can – of ourselves – wipe away the wrong we have done. We need God to save us from our sin, and to help us to change. That we most certainly can, through faith in God’s Son, Jesus. That is why it is so important to see who Jesus is. He is our life-saver, quite literally! And God says to us, ‘do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you.’ Isn’t that the most beautiful news? I think it is wonderful to know that God cares so much for us that he has put his plan of salvation in motion and made sure that we can actually truly live. As we see Jesus – now baptised and affirmed by God the Father – we have a foretaste of that final act of salvation that he performed on the cross. For us, so that we don’t have to be overwhelmed by death but may rejoice in the new life we have been given. Amen.
