Love, Light, and the Fulfillment of Promise
“Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly to help me. I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.”
John August Swanson’s Festival of Lights is a kaleidoscope of color and joy. Swanson is especially known for his rich storytelling and intricate, illuminated style, and here he captures the vibrancy of communal celebration and divine faithfulness. The painting teems with human figures gathered under the glow of countless candles, each light a testament to resilience, hope, and restoration.
This piece reflects the prayer of Psalm 71, where the psalmist proclaims God’s faithfulness and seeks His comfort in affliction. Like the psalm, Festival of Lights reminds us that God is ever near, shining light into our darkness and restoring us to joy. Swanson’s work resonates with our calling to live in the warmth of God’s promises and to reflect His love as a light to the world.
As we meditate on this painting, we see the connection between its radiant energy and the joyful presentation of Christ in the temple (Luke 2:22–40). Simeon and Anna’s recognition of Jesus as the Light of salvation mirrors the glow of Swanson’s vision, urging us to take up their song of praise and trust.
"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."
—Luke 2:29–30
Third Sunday of Epiphany
Texts for this Week
Prayer
Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the substance of our flesh, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Scriptures
Hebrew 2:14-18
Psalm 71:11-20
1Corinthians 12:27-13:13
Luke 2:22–40
Gustav Holst – Nunc Dimittis
Holst’s Nunc Dimittis brings Simeon’s song to life with exquisite simplicity and spiritual depth. Composed in 1915, this motet shimmers with quiet reverence and subtle grandeur. Holst’s harmonies evoke both the intimacy of a personal encounter with Christ and the universal hope fulfilled in His coming.
Simeon’s prayer is not merely a farewell but a profound proclamation of trust and joy. The quiet power of Holst’s setting captures the weight of this moment in Luke’s Gospel, where the promise of salvation is fulfilled. The intertwining vocal lines suggest the unity of heaven and earth, much as Christ’s incarnation bridges the divine and human.
The Nunc Dimittis also aligns with 1 Corinthians 13’s call to love as the highest virtue. In Simeon’s peaceful confidence, we hear an echo of perfect love casting out fear. His song, like Holst’s music, urges us to anchor our lives in the promises of God, where love and light will never fail.
Let Swanson’s art and Holst’s music guide your reflection this week, as we praise the One who restores us, calls us to love, and shines the light of salvation into our hearts.
