Author: Judith Russenberger

4th February 2024

Reflection (readings are below)

Candlemas end of the season of epiphany ends as it begins with the true nature of Jesus being revealed to the world. Six weeks ago we heard how the magi interpreted the message of the star so leading them to the house in Bethlehem where they recognised the baby Jesus as not just a king but also as one to be worshipped and adored.  Today we hear how Anna and Simeon having been led to where Mary and Joseph were making a ritual offering in the temple, recognised the true nature of the baby Jesus as the one who will be the means of salvation for the whole world. Both are epiphany moments – moments when a bright light seems to shine through earthly things to reveal God’s glory, a moment when the true nature of Jesus is revealed. In a few weeks we will hear the story of the Transfiguration when again the true nature and identity of Jesus will be revealed, this time to his closest companions.

Today’s first reading from the prophet Malachi, gives us an interesting slant on another aspect of revelation. Malachi talks of refining and purifying. To refine something can be to remove any impurities.  

Fuller’s soap – or fuller’s earth -is an alkaline substance that attracts and hangs onto grease and dirt in the wool or cloth that is to be cleaned. Then when the fuller’s soap is washed out it takes away with it the impurities. At the same time, being an alkaline, it also bleaches or whitens the material. 

Refining can also mean improving a process through trial and error or by repeated practice. We might refine our piano playing by practicing scales and repeating passages of music until we have perfected them. 

Refining might mean getting to the true purpose of a project or the true identity of a product. We might refine our wardrobe to create a particular look or to enable a particular lifestyle. 

As metal workers we might refine a piece of metal by heating and hammering it so that it becomes stronger and more flexible. As bakers, we might knead and stretch the dough to create a better textured bread. As chocolatiers we might warm and temper our chocolate to create a shinier smoother  finish. 

Refining may thus reveal the true or best characteristics of what is being refined. 

Malachi’s prophesy concerns the coming God’s messenger – by which we would now infer the coming of Jesus the Messiah – and the role he will play in refining and purifying God’s people.  Jesus will – and does – refine and purify us so that our true nature is revealed, a nature that reflects the image of God in which we were created, a nature that is characterised by righteousness.

For our part we need to align ourselves with Jesus, to allow our lives to be shaped by his, to allow  practice and testing to remove the impurities – our obstinacy and  stubbornness, our selfishness and lack of compassion – so that we become the people God calls us to be. In this we will find our strength and purpose, we will find an overwhelming desire to praise and serve God.

Malachi 3:1-4

Thus says the Lord, See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight– indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Psalm 84

1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O Lord of hosts! *
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.

2 The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; *
by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.

3 Happy are they who dwell in your house! *
they will always be praising you.

4 Happy are the people whose strength is in you! *
whose hearts are set on the pilgrims’ way.

5 Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs, *
for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.

6 They will climb from height to height, *
and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.

7 Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; *
hearken, O God of Jacob.

8 Behold our defender, O God; *
and look upon the face of your Anointed.

9 For one day in your courts is better than a thousand in my own room, *
and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.

10 For the Lord God is both sun and shield; *
he will give grace and glory;

11 No good thing will the Lord withhold *
from those who walk with integrity.

12 O Lord of hosts, *
happy are they who put their trust in you!

Hebrews 2:14-18

Since God’s children share flesh and blood, Jesus himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Luke 2:22-40

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

“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 to your people Israel.”

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed– and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.