Presentation of Our Lord

Today is Candlemas day. And what is the significance of this day? In Roman Catholic tradition it is associated with two themes. First, is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, 40 days after his birth. Second, in some Roman Catholic parishes, this is the day when all the candles used in religious service are blessed, along with those candles that might be used in homes during storms, power outages, etc.

We Protestants pretty much ignore many of the special days on the Religious calendar, and in some cases, that’s a pity. Reading more about the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, we learn that there were five things that Jewish father must do for his son. I found these on the Internet, so here they are as found:

Joseph and Mary had five obligations to their first-born son:

“The father is required to circumcise his son; to redeem him [referring to the first-born son, as per the Biblical passages in Numbers 18:15-16]; to teach him Torah; to assure that he marries; and to teach him a trade. Some say he must also teach him to swim.”

Every time I see a young couple present their child for Christian baptism or dedication, I think of the presentation of Jesus and the wonderful story of both Simeon and and the prophetess Anna. Simeon knew that he had seen the Salvation of Israel and was content to depart this life in peace.

In the baby dedications and baptisms that I have performed as a pastor, never once did I note these five things in my charge to parents. Perhaps I should have. Too often the Church waits for some fortuitous occasion to arise for the salvation of our children when everything is just right. My mother was raised in the Methodist church in which the church’s expectation was that from her baptism as an infant, her catechism as a child, and her confirmation were more than just rites of passage. The Church, on behalf of our Lord, exercised its claim upon the children of its families in intentional ways marked unmistakeably by events witnessed by the whole church.

In my opinion, we Protestants still have a lot to learn after all these years. The American church, particularly, with its marketing techniques, emphasis on entertainment, and laissez-faire approach can only blame itself if there is an exodus of our young adults from the church. Obviously, there are no guarantees that either intentionality or laissez-faire approaches will promise intentional discipleship as opposed to nominalism. We must inculcate in the lives of our families, the important assistance the Church plays in partnership with parents when it comes to fulfilling a proper role related to spiritual nurture.

May this day remind you of your commitment to Christ, enriched by your familial and ecclesial experiences, and may it encourage you to partner with young parents as a godly influence to help them present their children to our Lord.

Grace and peace,

Dave Felter