Traditionally this is the fortieth day of Christmas. Though the Christmas season closed with the Epiphany, the Presentation brings us back to some of the Christmas themes. The temple is not merely a building where believers gather to worship God. It is sacred because it is the dwelling place of God on earth. Therefore, the coming of God to the temple was always a time of great anticipation and excitement. It promised blessing and rejoicing. It took the eyes of the old man and the faith of an old woman to recognise that the Lord had indeed come into the temple. Ritually, it was the child who was redeemed. In fact, it is the world that will be redeemed by this child. He is the light that shines in the darkness of the world; he will enlighten all people, Jew and Gentile alike. This feast shares the theme of universality so prominent on the feast of the Epiphany. The king of glory opens the portals for the entire universe to enter.