Epiphany IV/ Presentation of Christ- Luke 2:22-40

Several different names can be applied to this coming Sunday. It is the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, but this year, Epiphany IV falls on 2 February. So the day is also the Feast commemorating the Presentation of Christ in the Temple on the fortieth day after His Birth. Another name is the Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin because she also underwent certain rites at this time. In the Middle Ages, the day also became known as Candlemas because of the custom of blessing ecclesiastical candles on this date.

Luke 2:22-40 reminds us that the Holy Family chose to fulfill all righteousness; they followed the Law perfectly. In doing so, they pointed to the general human need for both purification and redemption. In the words of the Prayer Book Collect for the Day, the divine "Son was this day presented in the temple in substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto [God] with pure and clean hearts ... by Jesus Christ our Lord." Through Christ, may we all be purified and presented to God on a daily basis!

The Presentation of Christ and the Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin

February 2 is the fortieth day after Christmas, and it has sometimes been considered the real end of the Christmas celebrations. Traditionally, the feast was called Candlemas in the Western Church because liturgical candles were blessed on this day. But that was just a quaint detail. The primary significance of the day is shown by the Gospel from St. Luke 2. 

On the fortieth day after Christ's birth, it was time for His mother to undergo the purification rites prescribed by Jewish Law (St. Luke 2:22). It was also the time to present Jesus to the priests and to redeem Him as His mother's firstborn son. As he does repeatedly, St. Luke reminds us that the Holy Family followed the customs of Jewish piety and devotion to the Law. Of all women, the Virgin certainly did not need real purification; neither did the Christ Child truly need redeeming. However, they chose to fulfill all righteousness, to follow the Law perfectly. In doing so, they obeyed the Law and pointed to the human need for purification and redemption. In the words of the Prayer Book Collect for the Day, the divine "Son was this day presented in the temple in substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto [God] with pure and clean hearts ... by Jesus Christ our Lord."