The Light Of Divine Splendor
The following is an excerpt from one of the early Church Fathers, St Sophronius. He was a monk chosen to be bishop and Patriarch of Jerusalem during the 7th century. In this reading we are reminded that Christ is the Light and Life of the world, and that we are called to reflect that light.
In some places parishes still hold the procession with lighted candles to remember the true meaning of this feast. With Simeon we can exclaim that through the Light of Christ, we too have seen our Salvation.
Here is St Sophronius' reflection on the Presentation of Our Lord.
Our lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendor of the one who comes to expel the dark shadows of evil and to make the whole universe radiant with the brilliance of his eternal light. Our candles also show how bright our souls should be when we go to meet Christ.
The Mother of God, the most pure Virgin, carried the true light in her arms and brought him to those who lay in darkness. We too should carry a light for all to see and reflect the radiance of the true light as we hasten to meet him.
The light has come and has shone upon a world enveloped in shadows;the Dayspring from on high has visited us and given light to those who lived in darkness. This, then, is our feast, and we join in procession with lighted candles to reveal the light that has shone upon us and the glory that is yet to come to us through him. So let us hasten all together to meet our God.
The true light has come, the light that enlightens every man who is born into this world. Let all of us, my brethren, be enlightened and made radiant by this light. Let all of us share in its splendor, 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 anxcerpt found at Dr.d to give us all a share in his splendor.
Through Simeon’s eyes we too have seen the salvation of God which he prepared for all the nations and revealed as the glory of the new Israel, which is ourselves. As Simeon was released from the bonds of this life when he had seen Christ, so we too were at once freed from our old state of sinfulness.
By faith we too embraced Christ, the salvation of God the Father, as he came to us from Bethlehem. Gentiles before, we have now become the people of God. Our eyes have seen God incarnate, and because we have seen him present among us and have mentally received him into our arms, we are called the new Israel. Never shall we forget this presence; every year we keep a feast in his honor.
Comments
You really are very knowledgeable of the Saints Karinnan. Especially the lesser known ones that we don't often hear about. I wonder how they must feel in their obscurity when they meet up with Peter, or Paul in Heaven?
Have you thought of writing a series of Blogs about some of them?
Thanx; and God bless you always.
God bless!