"You Are a Candle" | The Rev. Heidi Thorsen | February 2, 2025

Sermon Preached: February 2, 2025 at Trinity on the Green

Presentation of our Lord: Malachi 3:1-4 | Hebrews 2:14-18 | Luke 2:22-40 | Psalm 84

May I speak in the name of God, who is to us Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

When I was a kid growing up in California, we used to make frequent trips from Southern California, where I grew up, to the Central Valley– the land of my father and grandparents. Sometimes we made this trip several times a month, even though it took over six hours in the car, one way. I figure long car rides are pretty much my birthright, as a Californian. Once we arrived in my dad’s hometown we would meet up with grandparents and cousins. I remember camping trips to Yosemite, hide and seek in obscure corners of my grandparents house, and walks along the many canals of the Central Valley, where we would collect the melons that grew on weeds at the edge of the concrete and see how far we could throw them. It’s amazing what you can do for entertainment in rural America.

This week, I remembered an activity that I had almost completely forgotten: the great Thorsen candle-making project. In the backyard of my uncle and aunt’s house we set up large pots of colorful wax, simmering on what must have been camping stoves. Being one of the younger cousins, I was somewhat limited in my candle-making ability. I remember wanting to make a neat, perfect candle, and not getting far in the process. And then: there was my older cousin Ryan. For whatever reason I have vivid memories of his candle creation. It was as wide as it was tall. Wax, upon wax, upon wax– color upon color, like a monster emerging from a swamp. Young perfectionist that I was, part of me was probably appalled at his approach to candlemaking. And yet the fact remains that I would have completely forgotten that candle-making adventure if not for that glorious, extravagant, wonderful mass of a candle.

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord, a feast that honors the story that we heard read in our Gospel passage for today. Forty days after Jesus’ birth, Mary comes to the temple for the Jewish rites of purification, and for the dedication of her child. But there is also another name for this feast day. Some call it: Candlemas. This tradition originates from scripture itself, and the words that Simeon says when he first sees the infant Jesus:

"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."

Building on that imagery of “a light for revelation to the Gentiles,” Christians began using candles in the commemoration of this feast day around the 5th century. Since then the tradition has evolved to include various blessings of candles, most often those used in liturgical services throughout the year. Candles themselves took on a symbolic significance, with the wax representing Christ’s flesh, his humanity; the wick representing Christ’s soul; and the flame representing Christ’s divinity. It became tradition to use candles that are at least 51% beeswax– a material that symbolizes purity– and that is a tradition that we carry on today with the candles we use at our high altar.

Now, a beeswax candle is a beautiful thing to behold. And also, I still can’t get out of my head that image of my cousin Ryan’s candle, glorious in its own right. One of the core messages of the Feast of the Presentation– and Candlemas– is the idea that God’s light is extended to the Gentiles, to all nations, as Simeon’s words say. Our Christian faith is not possible without this critical shift. God became human in the person of Jesus, but that incarnation wasn’t just for the Jews. It was for everyone. Throughout his ministry Jesus proclaimed a gospel of welcome; a gospel of acceptance for people who were wildly different from one another. And so I have to believe that if Jesus himself was doing the candle blessing on Candlemas, he wouldn’t just be blessing the beeswax candles. He would be blessing my cousin Ryan’s massive creation of a candle. He would be blessing the Yankee candle that sits on your colleague’s desk at work. He would be blessing the tea lights that smell like patchouli at the yoga studio. He would be blessing the half-burnt Trader Joe’s candle collecting dust in my bathroom at home. If it were up to Jesus, he would be blessing all of it– each and every light in the world. Each and every person made in the image of God.

In the traditions of the church, as I mentioned before, the wax represents the flesh of Jesus Christ. In the act of incarnation Jesus became flesh, declaring once and for all that our own flesh is holy. God declares us blessed, just as we are. I can assure you that no specific percentage of beeswax is required. We are blessed just as we are, and God enlightens each one of us with the spark of divinity. You know, the evangelical tradition that I grew up in was onto something there. We truly are meant to be on fire for God. Our faith should ignite us, to recognize our own holiness, and the holiness in every person that we meet.

Now there are some who would like to snuff out those candles. There are some who maintain that certain individuals or groups don’t deserve to have their light shine. Under the current political administration, it is increasingly dangerous to let your light shine if you are gay, lesbian, transgender, a naturalized citizen, a person of color, an immigrant, a refugee, an asylum seeker. And yet God has already declared each one of us holy. And each and every one of us has every right to shine. As Jesus says in the Gospel of Matthew, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Our task is twofold. First: be a light. In a world of shadow, selfishness, and shortsightedness– be a light that points towards the unconditional love of God. And be the light that God created you to be. Don’t force yourself into some imaginary mold. Be a light of love, authenticity, and connection. And keep your lamps “trimmed and burning,” as the parable says in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 12:35). It would be all too easy to burn out in this environment. Give yourself enough space– enough oxygen– that you can burn long and bright in the days to come.

The second task is this: be a prophet, like Simeon and Anna. When you encounter Jesus in the face of another person, don’t hesitate to speak up. Speak up and say: this is holy. This is good. Pay attention. We each have an important role to play in making sure that no person is trampled on or cast aside; in making sure that no lights are made to go out. We are– each and every one of us– made in the image of God. And it is our duty as Christians to respect and protect the dignity of every human being. Jesus did not die on the cross for us to pick and choose who matters. Instead, we honor Christ’s sacrifice whenever we look at each other through God’s eyes, loving each and every person to the best of our ability, as God loves us. Loving them not only in how we feel, but also in how we act and show up for each other.

You are a candle. You are a flame.

Keeping that in mind, I’d like to conclude with this blessing for candles. I hope you receive it this morning as a blessing for yourself. Let us pray.

O Gracious Father, almighty and eternal God, you created all things out of nothing, and by your command caused the labor of bees to be revealed in the perfection of wax. You commanded your servant Moses to keep lamps continually burning before you. Bless and sanctify these candles that their light may be for us a visible reminder of the true light who enlightens everyone coming into the world. All this we ask through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

(Abbreviated form for blessing candles, from Michael K. Marsh)

Works Cited:

Marsh, Michael K. “Blessing Candles on the Presentation of our Lord.” Interrupting the Silence. Blog published January 28, 2013. Accessed January 29, 2025. https://interruptingthesilence.com/2013/01/28/blessing-candles-on-the-presentation-of-our-lord/