There is a sense of looking both forward and backwards in this Sunday’s readings. We are celebrating Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Christ at the Temple, it is the story of how Jesus, at 8 days old, faced a series of ancient rituals which formed the bedrock of Jewish faith. Firstly there comes the naming and circumcision which goes back to God’s covenant with Abraham that he would have as many offspring as stars in the sky. Jesus is Jewish through and through, a son of Abraham. The naming should come as no surprise to us, we are after all following the story of Jesus, and it is the name that the angels gave to Mary and to Joseph. It would, however, have been a surprise to others, or perhaps not. It was customary for the father to give the child a family name, but we all know that Joseph isn’t the ‘birth father’ and the rumours around Jesus’ conception never settled. The name ‘Jesus’ in Greek, or ‘Joshua’ in Hebrew, means The Lord Saves. It wasn’t a unique name, but has taken on a unique meaning.

The second ritual is the redemption of the first born son. This was marked by the offering of 5 shekels, and connects the Jewish first born son back to Egypt and the Exodus, when the blood of a roasted lamb was smeared on door lintels of Israelite families to prevent the angel of death from visiting.

The third ritual was actually for Mary, the mother, who had been made unclean by the mess and stress of childbirth. An humble sacrifice of doves or pigeons which would have been inexpensive, were offered so that Mary is able to resume contact with family and society. This ritual is a sign that the mother has healed and is able to leave her bed.

What is noticeable from Luke’s account is that the Redemption is missing from this trinity of rituals. Instead of Jesus being redeemed he receives a blessing from a pair of old faithfuls. We have looked back into the depths of holy history, now Simeon and Anna, two prophets who spend their days in the temple courts, move the story forward, before they exit the scene.

Simeon is the one who first sung the Nunc Dimittis which we continue to sing or recite at Compline. In this prayerful song Simeon quiet literally makes his farewell; he has been waiting for this moment when he will cast his eyes upon the Christ-child, holding onto the promise that God has made to him. This tiny, 8 day old baby, he knows is the saviour, the one who will be a light for Gentiles and Israelites alike. Simeon declares what the Magi will enact, everyone is welcome in the home of God. Simeon blesses the baby, and it all seems so lovely, until he turns to Mary and warns her that there will be pain and anguish. The words of her song, the Magnificat, will come true, but at great cost to a mother’s heart.

As Simeon finishes his piece Anna joins in. I imagine this old woman who was widowed young and without children, wrapping her arms around the young mother to comfort her, as she sings praises to God. It is a bitter sweet moment.

Jesus is only 8 days old but we have begun to look forward not just to his ministry but his death too. This week we finally leave the Christmas celebrations behind. Briefly we enter into a period known as ‘Ordinary Time’ in the church, or, ‘God is with us all the Time’ as I like to call it. We will soon be moving into Lent and Easter, and the reason for the lack of Jesus’ redemption in the Temple becomes clear, he is to become the sacrificial lamb, but not just for the firstborns, the Israelites, but for everyone.

This can be a time for us too to look both backwards and forwards. We can engage with the ancient traditions of bringing candles to church to be blessed as a reminder of Christ’s light in our homes (or perhaps that should be lightbulbs, or even the torches on our smartphones?), but we can also prepare to re-engage with the Easter story. In Jesus’ refusal to be redeemed, we can find our own redemption. In Jesus’ sacrifice we can find forgiveness for all the little pettinesses and larger grudges we hold on to. In Jesus’ resurrection we can find hope and light and life.