One of the more interesting, yet at the same time least known tourist sites in Victoria, is Melba Gully in the Otway Ranges. If one descends the gully after dusk, one is struck by the almost total lack of light. The only illumination comes from the glow worms that live within. Although the light each worm emits is very small, their small glows can be seen from a significant distance away and, if one has good eyesight and takes care, it is just possible to walk around the specially designed track, using the light of the worms as glow.
Melba Gully is a powerful reminder of the importance of light: the smallest amount of light can be detected by the human eye and darkness is incapable of smothering it. On 2 February, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to the Law of Moses, 40 days after the birth of a male child, a woman had to make a sacrifice of thanksgiving in the temple (Leviticus 12). After the birth of the first born son, the parents had to redeem or "buy back" the child through a sacrifice, since the firstborn belonged to God (Exodus 13: 11 - 16). This feast is therefore inherently linked with Christmas, occurring 40 days after the celebration of the birth of Christ. It is the last feast in the Christmas cycle. The account of the feast, Luke 2: 22 - 40, forms the gospel for the Presentation. In this episode Jesus was first referred to as "the light", one of the major metaphors used by the gospels in describing Jesus, particularly St. John's gospel.

Light is integral to the celebration of the Presentation, hence the alternative name of Candlemas for the feast. The celebration of Mass may begin with the blessing of candles, ideally every candle that is going to be used both by the Church in its worship and by individuals for private devotion. One of the prayers of blessing focuses on the link between the light of the candle and Jesus, the light:


God our Father, source of eternal light,
fill the hearts of all believers
with the light of faith.
may we who carry these candles in your church
come with joy to the light of glory.

Christians believe that Jesus is the light of the world. Like the glow worms in Melba Gully, the "darkness" of secularism and materialism have failed to extinguish the light that is Jesus. Almost all people in Australian society, whether they are aware of it or not, have been to some extent influenced in a positive way by the person of Jesus and the Christian legacy. Genocide, infanticide and massacring civilians in time of war are, for example, are rightly regarded as crimes against humanity: these, however, were regarded as normal acceptable practices in the world into which Jesus was born. Similarly, whilst many non Christian religions emphasise the importance of lending a helping hand to those in need, much of the welfare in our society is administered by Christian groups.
The glow worms also demonstrate the principle that even small amounts of light are be used effectively, provided the viewer knows how to use the light. As Christians, it is one thing to know something about Jesus; it is quite another thing to follow Jesus. To what extent are we open to allowing Jesus to influence our lives? To what extent are we prepared to form our values and attitudes by those that he proclaims, however challenging they may appear to be in the short term?

The small but constant glow of the glow worm is also a call to remain hopeful, no matter how dark or gloomy things may appear to be. Christianity is inherently a religion of hope. Jesus assures believers throughout the Gospels that God is faithful to His promises. One of the most moving characters in the Presentation story is the character of Simeon. We are told that the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he saw the Messiah (Christ). Whilst we cannot be certain how long Simeon had to wait, it is possible that as an old man, he may have been waiting for most of his adult life, upwards of 40 years. His proclamation of Jesus as the light of the world is inherently linked to God's fidelity to the promise he made to Simeon. This portion of the text, known as the Nunc Dimittis, is said or sung as part of Night Prayer.


Now, Lord, you have kept your word:
Let your servant go in peace.
With my own eyes I have seen the salvation
Which you have prepared in the sight of every people.
A light to reveal you to the nations
And the glory of your people Israel.