The Rev’d Lucy Nguyen
1 February 2026
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple –Te Tapaenga O Te Karaiti I Te Temepara
Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 84; Hebrews 2 :14-18; Luke 2 :22-40.
Today in our Anglican Church calendar it is the Feast Day of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.
For clarity’s sake, we understand that in the Church sense, a feast day is primarily a liturgical commemoration of a saint, an event in the life of Jesus, or a major biblical event.
While feast does not mean a “party for eating” in the modern, secular sense of a riotous feast, it does traditionally include communal joy and celebration, which often includes sharing food and breaking a fast. And so, we do in this service – gather round the table, break bread and share in the Eucharist feast.
We keep feast days and festival days as liturgical markers that shape our church’s yearly, weekly, and daily worship. These days act as a “gospel-shaped” calendar that helps believers focus on the life of Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the example of the saints. We tell faith stories to remind us of how we all, indeed all the world, belongs together in God’s love – made known to us through Jesus.
A link to this year’s lectionary, Year A in the three year cycle is included in the online sermon.
https://anglican.org.nz/content/download/162021/813325/version/1/file/2026+Lectionary+Final.pdf
We observe these days not for superstitious reasons, but because “it is meet and right so to do” (proper and good) to give thanks to God. Saints are commemorated (remembered) to thank God for their witness, rather than being worshipped.
Today in church calendars is often called Candlemas, drawing from Simeon’s prophecy of Jesus being light to the world or better known as the Light of the Revelation to the Gentiles. Many churches will bless the candles to be used in the upcoming year. Our blessing will take place later in the 9:30am service today.
In fact, Candlemas is a bit of a bonus day for there are three Feast being remembered today! All are part of Luke’s Gospel always read on this day.
Feast of the Presentation of Jesus: Commemorates Joseph and Mary presenting Jesus in the Temple, following Jewish law.
Feast of the Purification of Mary: Marks the completion of Mary’s ritual purification 40 days after childbirth. And so today is also 40 days since Christmas. I’ll let you check that over your morning coffee.
And the Feast of the Holy Encounter/Meeting of the Lord: Which refers to the meeting of the infant Jesus with the elders Simeon and Anna in the Temple.
This collection of stories is found exclusively in the gospel of Luke.
You’ll notice next week that we will have completed the removal of the Christmas decorations with the Manger scene being safely put away for next year.
Lots of traditions in this season, and while we may sometimes be sceptical of doing things for the sake of tradition, I may be championing that we pick up one more tradition for this day. I gather that In France and elsewhere, the eating of crêpes, symbolizing the sun or the prosperity of the coming year is also encouraged. Perhaps we could see it as a practice run for Shrove or pancake Tuesday which is just a mere 17 days away.
Putting that idea to the side, for now, and looking at the text, we, as did Early Christian theologians, find rich symbolism and Old Testament allusion in Luke’s words.
We’ve noted these distinct contexts coming together. And from them see the linking of the old to new and to you/us today…
There is the theme of Obedience. Forty days after Jesus’ birth, and 33 days after Jesus’ circumcision and naming, Joseph and Mary travel from Nazareth to Jerusalem (about 65 miles) to fulfil the new mother’s purification requirements. Leviticus 12:2-8 commands mothers to offer a sacrifice—preferably a lamb—for their purification after delivery. For any who could not bring a lamb, which apparently included Mary, the prescribed sacrifice was “two turtledoves or two pigeons.” (3) Yet Mary does (!) bring the lamb of God, in bringing Jesus! Mary is depicted as continuing to meet those requirements yet understanding the need to adapt her obedience to God to fit her context, both the old and the new.
Alongside obedience there is the theme of Connecting/ Bridging – The Old Testament bringing us to the new covenant. Mary and Joseph’s obedience to the Mosaic law (Leviticus 12) highlights the encounter between the Old Covenant (represented by Simeon and Anna) and the New Covenant (the infant Jesus). (1) We do not throw our past away even as we change move forward.
Jesus is the Messiah, and he is revealed as the Light of the World, appearing to His people at the Temple. While in the Temple, the family meets Simeon (“just and devout”) who has been led there by the Spirit to see a promise fulfilled.
Simeon takes the child in his arms and prophesies about His identity, calling Jesus “God’s salvation” and “a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles which we’ve been reminded already this year, means others, foreigners, not just the inside crowd.
And in a lovely mirroring for connection, in the text Simeon’s taking Jesus (God’s Word) into His arms parallels Moses taking up the tablets of stone (God’s Law) into his arms! While at the same moment, a prophetess named Anna appears and speaks about God’s redemptive purposes for the child in Israel.
• today in our faith stories, we share how we see the world,
• we consider the lens we choose to see the world,
• and we understand that we, with all the world, are invited once again to live along with Jesus’ life.
In all the bloody brutality of nature and humans we live in eternal life-saving light and love of God made known to in Jesus. I mean, we know what’s going to happen, we read our bible and our news feeds – let’s not fool ourselves.
As we look this month to Lent, the lives we read of today: of Mary, Simeon, and Anna—these heroes of faith, these saints—provide a great way to consider God’s invitation to us. An invitation to consider our obedience to the teachings of what’s being asked of us and the working through what it all means today for this generation. This Sunday marks the point where we stop looking back on the celebrations of Jesus’ coming at Christmas and begin looking forward,
Yes, we are moving towards Jesus’ passion.
Yes, we are turning from birth towards death and resurrection.
And yet at this first pivot point in the year, we hear the call for obedience. Not just to get out of bed on time etc but an obedience to remember that God is with us.
What practices will you refresh or start new this year?
We are marked by our baptism, to travel from light to light…our candles reminding us of the very presence of God light for ours and anyone’s darkness. Let us travel together in love.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Sources included
- Candlemas (2nd February) – The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
- https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/presentation-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-in-the-temple-the/
- https://conversatio.org/session-3-candlemas-or-the-presentation-of-the-lord/
- https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/a-sonnet-for-candlemas/