http://trinitycliffsidepark.org/blog trinity church Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:00:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 http://trinitycliffsidepark.org/blog/?p=15 http://trinitycliffsidepark.org/blog/?p=15#comments Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:00:34 +0000 willie555 http://trinitycliffsidepark.org/blog/?p=15 Today is the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. I love this feast day. In our tradition, it is placed as a Second Class Feast rather than a First Class.  Christmas and Easter being First Class ones.
In some corners of the liturgical world this means that the season of Christmas has ended. Candles are blessed on this day to symbolize the Christ the Light is taken out to the world. Seasonally, the daylight is noticeably longer. The Presentation is the fulcrum as the light of day becomes longer the shadow of the Cross becomes prominent. A new way to look at the season of the Epiphany. In the Eastern Church this Feast is a big deal. It is not called The Presentation but “The Meeting” or “The Encounter.” In many ways this day’s observance is an encounter.
The Song of Simeon is read from the Gospel of Luke 2:29-32 appointed for today.
“Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior whom you have prepared for all the world to see….” This song is prayed during the end of the day at Evening Prayer and Compline. It is also prayed at the Burial of the Dead and when a Church is closed. Recently, I was at a meeting where a woman whose church was closed spoke about the impact of hearing the Song of Simeon. “It’s been many years,she said but those words are still with me.”
In the Message the Song is translated as: ” God, you can now release your servant, release me in peace as you have promised. With my own eyes I have seen your salvation.” In the original translation from the Greek the words connote the release of a slave.
Perhaps Simeon is singing about his own experience of being release from slavery. Many have come to interpret his words as being release from old age and die but slavery takes many expressions.  For example, the oppressions of daily living, attachments to people, places and things. Now release comes  to live. Release to be free to live life in a new way. Release to be at peace with oneself. All this has come as a result of what he experienced in the temple in an encounter with Jesus.

]]> http://trinitycliffsidepark.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=15 0 http://trinitycliffsidepark.org/blog/?p=11 http://trinitycliffsidepark.org/blog/?p=11#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:53:30 +0000 willie555 http://trinitycliffsidepark.org/blog/?p=11 As the New Year begins I find myself humming these words, I am thinking of friends and events that I have experienced in 2010. Why is easier to call to mind the not so good acquaintances? There are so many good and pleasant ones. It seems that we are hard wired to dwell on the dark side rather than dwell in the light.
The Church is transitioning from the season of Christmas into the season of Epiphany. The season starts off with a visit from strangers who leave gifts and the stories that follow are of miracles and callings. Epiphany is a season of “epiphanies”. A season of OH!!!, It’s just occurred to me….” A time to notice that the time to be in darkness is passing and to bask in the light has come. Should old acquaintances be forgot and never call to mind? The choice is always ours. But perhaps if listen to the prophet’s words: “Arise shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord is shining on you.” Our choice may be a little easier.

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