Journey through January week 5

Introduction

There are many points in the year when a fresh start can be made: the new school year, the tax year, Advent. The turn from December to January and our counting of the years of the Common Era is another opportunity to take stock and assess our lives: our needs, aspirations and hopes. We can also reflect on the needs of others and of the whole creation.

It is during this change as we move into January that the hymn *Lord, for the years, can be appropriate and helpful. Using the five verses we can consider aspects of our life and of creation at the beginning of New Year, 2022.

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The week beginning Sunday 30 January 2022

Lord for ourselves, in living power remake us –
Self on the cross and Christ upon the throne,
Past put behind us, for the future take us:
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

As we move into February Jesus is revealed and recognised as the light and salvation for all people.

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple or Candlemas is celebrated on 2 February [Luke 2. 22 – 40]

In this episode in the life of Jesus we are confronted with disparities and challenges.
It highlights areas which may assist us as we face our fears for the future.

The prophet Malachi forsees the time when the Lord will come to his Temple. This is a cause for celebration but it is tinged with judgement. [Malachi 3. 1 – 5]
We often light candles as part of our Candlemas worship: light to illuminate our way but fire to refine and purify us.

According to the Law, Jesus needs to be presented as the first-born son and Mary has to be purified. This event may serve to emphasise the humanity of Jesus, the gift of God to humanity, while acknowledging that Jesus, the Messiah, is our salvation.

The characters in this episode encompass all age groups, from the infant, through the parents and then to the elderly. All are witness to this presentation. The enthusiasm of the young, the constancy in prayer and worship of the mature, the wisdom of the elderly: all should be valued.

While Simeon and Anna have spent many years in quiet prayer and contemplation, both they and Jesus’ parents act to bring Jesus to the attention of those watching.

As we move on to face the challenges of the coming months we can set ourselves targets to develop our spiritual life, to rely more on God’s grace, to value the contributions of all human beings, to pray but also to act to bring in the kingdom – all this in the knowledge that the Lord of time and eternity is with us.

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*Lord for the Years by Timothy Dudley Smith (CCLI copyright covered by CCL 118111)
© 1969 Hope Publishing Company