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Click here to listen to Moya's sermon. 12mins
Moya Lethbridge.
Hebrews 2:14-18
Do you fear death? Me – not sure! Chris in hospital, “Shall I leave?” “No, not scared but…..”. Died that night.
Older people, not death but the means.
Younger people – not me, it will happen to someone else.
How are we slaves to fear of death? (Heb. 2:15)
Not sinning/not sinning. Clear Biblical teaching it is good fear NOT to sin. “The soul that sins shall die” (Ezek. 18:4)
“The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23)
Judgement for every sin small or big, Hitler or man next door.
Right to fear sinning.
Good news of Gospel – “IF sin, have an Advocate with the Father” (1 John 2:1). Once surrendered to Jesus, his cross is our judgement.
“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22) Jesus’ blood freed us from judgement. Rom. 8:1 “There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”.
Live with repentant, humble hearts wanting to do will of God.
Completely safe – this is truth about us who trust Jesus, love him and serve him. God is a Father of mercy.
Need the fear of death and judgement to desire salvation.
(Ray Comfort, D.L.Moody – preached law before grace).
But another fear of death – what stops me acting in love because it MIGHT be sin.
“I ought to…” “I ought not to…” Is it God’s will? Shall I or sha’n’t I?
For me – fear of being wrong. Stops me doing things I like in case it is selfish! (China teapot!)
Gospel again: “Christ has set us free. Stand as free people and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again”. (Gal. 5:1)
Can be slaves to dos and don’ts and then judge others.
(Judgement is the bigger sin – not their actions!)
St Augustine “Love God and do what you like”
Jesus loved God with heart, soul, mind, strength and liked all people – liked to help them.
Heb. 2:18 – Jesus suffered and was tempted in this too so can help us.
· tempted to live by rules (Sabbath Matt.12:1-12 etc, woman, John 4:1ff)
· tempted to please family rather than God (Mark 3:31-35)
· tempted not to touch leper (Mark 2:40-45)
I’m quite sure had thoughts in head – “I ought to…” “I ought not to…” Tempted to live by rules not relationship with God.
Jesus did keep all rules but in freedom of loving God.
For us and Jesus – “By grace you are saved through faith…” (Eph. 2:8) “Keep in step with the Spirit…” (Gal. 5:16)
Face little deaths of possible failures, mistakes, sins in following Jesus, little deaths of not living by rules but trusting the Holy Spirit. “Perfect love casts out fear because fear has to do with judgement” (1 John 4:18). God is Father of mercy to us.
Prayer for me at New Wine re fear of being wrong – “Courage and confidence”! We can trust Jesus with everything!
Rob Thomas “Candlemas”
Malachi 3:1-4
Hebrews 2:14-18
Luke 2:22-40
On the church Calendar today is the 4th Sunday after Epiphany but, as the reading from Luke’s Gospel indicates we are also celebrating the “Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.” Theoretically that special day is set for 2nd February but as today is the closest Sunday we are observing it today, although I’m sure it will be marked again at the 7.30am service on Tuesday.
There are many other names for the feast set down for 2nd February depending on the denomination of the Christian church but the names we most closely relate to are; “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple,” “The Purification of the Blessed Virgin” and “Candlemas.” All the names mark the same day.
I have to admit I was not aware of the name “Candlemas” until I read it on our roster so I thought I should do a little reseach because I found it interesting that there are so many names for the same day, so today’s address is possibly more of a brief history lesson than a sermon!
Let’s start with the name ‘Candlemas.”
As the name suggests it’s about candles and as you’ve probably already guessed, originated many centuries ago, probably around the tenth century, when February 2nd marked the midway point between the shortest day and the Spring equinox, (in the northern hemisphere, of course.) In those early times it became the day that cattle would be moved from any fields that were to be used for making hay or those paddocks that were to be ploughed and sown that coming spring.
Not only did 2nd February act as a seasonal marker but early Christians observed the season of Christmas for 40 days, ending on 2nd February, and that day was celebrated by bringing all the candles that would be used during the year into the church to be blessed, hence the day became known as the Festival Day - or Mass - of the Candles. We now observe a much shorter Christmas season of only 12 days ending with the Epiphany which is usually celebrated on 6th January.
It must be remembered that candles were the main source of light at night in those times, (well before electricity or gas), so they were considered not only to be a necessity but many believed them to be a means of protection against diseases, illness and even famine. Interestingly, the candles to be blessed had to be made of bees-wax so it seems the health-giving properties of bee’s products was something believed in centuries ago - and carries on today.
There are a number of other customs or traditions that are associated with “candlemas,” some of which seem to me to be based on superstition because one item I came across during my brief research stated that in the U.K good weather at Candlemas is taken to indicate severe winter weather later and quoted a short verse saying: “If Candlemas Day is clear and bright, winter will have another bite.
“If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.”
To me, that sounds a bit like our local folk-lore which says if the pohutakawa tree blooms early we will have a long hot summer, Yeah, Right! But who can tell? Summer took some time to arrive but, hopefully, we will enjoy these warmer days for a while.
Of course, for Christians, candles were, and still are, a reminder of something even more important because before Jesus came into the world it was as if everyone was spiritually “in the dark,” often living in fear of loneliness or death but after the spreading of the teachings of the Gospels there was a profound change in attitude with Christ being described as the “light of the world” - as he still is today. That’s why candles are still lit for our services today as a reminder that Christ is indeed our light and our life.
According to Roman Catholic tradition this day is also know as “ The Purification of the Blessed Virgin,” or the “Presentation of the Lord” and stems from the Law handed down from God to Moses, as described in the book of Leviticus, Chapter 12; v2-8, which decreed that a mother who had given birth to a male child was considered unclean for seven days, then she remained in a form of isolation, not being permitted to enter the Temple, for another 33 days, giving a total of 40 days. After 40 days she was then required to take the child to the Temple to be presented to the Lord and, if he was the first-born male, was dedicated to God. The law also reqired that a sacrificial offering be made of a lamb and a dove but we are told that Mary and Joseph’s sacrificial offering was two doves and two young pigeons which may be an indication of the basic life, home and income with which they had to nurture Jesus. They simply didn’t have, nor could they afford, a lamb, therefore the two doves and two pigeons became the tariff. They were not wealthy people!
Perhaps we might consider it fortunate - it more ways than one - that Mary’s first-born was a male - we know it wasn’t “fortunate,” it was God’s plan - but again according to the Mosaic law, when a mother gave birth to a baby girl, she wasn’t allowed to touch anything Holy or enter the Temple for 80 days, twice the time for after giving birth to a baby boy. Thankfully, we don’t observe those forms of discrimination any more and, in my opinion, it’s well past time we eliminated all forms of discrimination based on gender. But that’s another discussion!
The other facet of this ceremony in the Temple was the blessing and/or purification of the mother, Mary, which we are told was carried out by Simeon, a well known and devout man, also referred to as Simeon the Righteous, who lived in Jerusalem at that time. Simeon had received a promise from God, through the Holy Spirit, that he would not die before seeing the Messiah, the saviour of Israel, and as soon as he saw Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus he saw something about that baby which convinced him that here indeed was the promised Messiah, so he took baby Jesus into his arms and gave thanks and praise to God with the words we now know as the “Nunc Dimittis” or the “Song of Simeon.” I particularly like the translation used in the Book of Common Prayer, probably because I have sung it so often over the past 60 years;
“Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people.
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.”
(The slightly more modern version is in our prayer books on page 78.)
Simeon also made the prophetic statement to Mary that (v34) “This child is chosen by God for the destruction and the salvation of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God which many people will speak against and so reveal their secret thoughts. Sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart.” How right he was!
Confirmation of Simeon’s prophecy that Jesus was indeed the Messiah was given by Anna, a widow and prophetess who had lived in the Temple for decades but I can’t help thinking how difficult it must have been for not only Mary and Joseph to fully comprehend what was happening, but for all the people around them to somehow understand that this new-born baby was the Messiah. We now know that Jesus was and is the redeemer but if we had been there and were told that a baby would bring us peace and redemption I wonder if we would have accepted or believed. We certainly have the benefit of scrpture,history, hindesight and experience.
Irrespective of what customs or traditions have evolved over the centuries, some from folk-lore, some from superstition, others based on historical fact, we know, without doubt that Christ was born of Mary, lived among us in the flesh, died for us on the cross and rose again to live among us today and forever.
He is indeed the light of the world and we signify his presence with those candles on the alter, so let him light your path and be your guide through this mortal life and into life everlasting. Amen.
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