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     The feast of the Presentation of the Lord is also known as "candlemas day" because it has traditionally featured the blessing of candles to be used in the church during the year.  The candles are symbols of the light to which Simeon speaks in the gospel account of the "presentation."  For many Catholics, their contact with those candles will take place tomorrow on the feast of St. Blaise (replaced by Sunday) when there is the traditional "blessing of the throats!"  However, the meaning of the feast day goes far beyond candles.  The gospel of Luke includes this story as part of the "infancy narrative" in which almost every event is like a "mini-gospel" that prefigures Jesus' life and ministry later on.  

     Jesus, brought by his parents who are shown to be pious and observant Jews, comes to the temple (as prophesied by Malachi in the first scripture of today) just as he would travel to the temple in Jerusalem where he would die and rise!  On this occasion, he is revealed by another prophet, Simeon, and a prophetess, Anna, as the "light to the nations" - the savior of all.  He will also be rejected and his suffering would touch many, represented in his mother in this story.  In many ways, this is Luke's version of "epiphany" because the emphasis is on "revelation" and light.

     If you go to have your throat blessed, remember that those candles used in the ritual of blessing have a greater significance than a prayer to be delivered from a sore throat or food accident!  St. Blaise won't mind if you remember Jesus' presentation in the temple and what it meant ultimately for us all!   AMEN