Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 84, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40
Did you know that in England they have a saying about
today’s feast day? It’s very similar to our classic saying about Groundhogs
Day. While we look to Punxsutawney Phil
to find out how long winter will last, in England they say “If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter has another
flight. If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, winter will not come again.”[1]
Funny the silly things we have in common. What is interesting about both
of these sayings is that they both deal with darkness and light.
In each case it is the opposite of what we
might think. Normally we associate darkness with cold, hopelessness, and harshness;
conversely we associate light with warmth, hope, and love. In these sayings if
light is present today then winter will remain, whereas darkness foretells of
an early spring. Regardless of this apparent contradictory imagery the people
who first devised these sayings were looking for a sign, something to give them
hope that the cold dark winters would be over and the warmth and beauty of
spring would be ushered in soon.
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of
our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple.
It is this day that two prophecies intersect to show God’s light and love being
sent to us in a specific time and place, and that God continues to let light
shine through us.
Mary and Joseph were at the temple that
day for two reasons. The first was because it was time for Mary to offer a
sacrifice for her purification after giving birth. It was ritualistic
custom that a woman who had given birth was not allowed to step into the temple
until after forty days had passed. When the forty days were up they would have
to make a sacrificial offering for purity. Now Mary and Joseph were not rich
and could not afford the customary sacrifice of a lamb. Instead all they
could afford was two pigeons. Even though that is all they had they were
determined to follow the Law of Moses. The second reason Mary and Joseph were
at the temple was because as the first born son, Jesus was to be dedicated to
God. It is in observing these important rituals, handed down by God to Moses in
Sinai that they unexpectedly ran into two prophets, Simeon and Anna.
