Praise to Christ our Light


Today's feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple draws our Christmas cycle to an end. On this day we light extra candles, and as Simeon and Anna greeted the Christ Child, the light of the world, in the temple, we pray that we may be filled with the light of his love.
"The true light has come, the light that enlightens every one who is born into this world. Let all of us, my brothers and sisters, be enlightened and made radiant by this light. Let all of us share in its splendour, and be so filled with it that no one remains in the darkness. Let us be shining ourselves as we go together to meet and to receive with the aged Simeon the light whose brilliance is eternal. Rejoicing with Simeon, let us sing a hymn of thanksgiving to God, the Father of the light, who sent the true light to dispel the darkness and to give us all a share in his splendour". (From a sermon by St Sophronius of Damascus, circa 560).



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