Feb. 2: Presentation/Candlemas

Today is February 2nd. To most people in America, this is Groundhog's Day. For Catholics it is also the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (also called "Candlemas").

In Lev. 12, we read that Israelite women were to present themselves to a priest 40 days after giving birth for ritual purification. February 2nd is 40 days after Christmas. Further, Exodus 13:2&12 both state that they must present their firstborn to a priest to be consecrated to God. Mary and Joseph were devout Jews, so they would have followed the law. We also recognize that Mary, being sinless, didn't need to be ritually purified, but that she was respectful and obedient to the law, so she did anyway.

Today we celebrate the event when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to Jerusalem and dedicated Him in the Temple (see Lk. 2:22-40). Simeon and Anna were two holy people in the Temple, and they both reacted with great joy to be in the presence of Jesus.

Simeon was told he wouldn't die until he saw the Messiah, and when he finally saw Jesus, he exclaimed:

"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel." (Lk. 2:29-32)

 There have been many commentaries on this quote, but I just wanted to highlight the bold/underlined word: light. Simeon called Jesus the "light" for revelation and glory. Like a flashlight in the dark, Jesus is the Truth, which sheds light on everything so that we may see properly and know what is really there. Jesus is God's fullest revelation of Truth, and by His teachings, Church, and sacraments, we are guided into a fuller knowledge of the truth.

This is behind the Church's tradition of blessing candles on Feb. 2 every year. That is why today is also called "candlemas."

Today is also celebrated by some (particularly the Polish) as the end of the Christmas Season. The Presentation is the final feast day that is based on the date of Christmas. Many people will continue to celebrate the Christmas/Epiphany season until today. In my family this year, we have kept our tree and manger up even after the end of the main Christmas season (which lasts until the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus). This extends the celebration of Christmas to a 40-day celebration akin to that of Easter's 50 days.

May Jesus be a light to your day and your life, drawing you out of the darkness and into a fuller understanding (and love) of the Truth.


Photo Credit: http://www.stbarsaumochurch.com/Portals/0/Sermons/13-j-presentation.jpg

Advent Enigma

Every year, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we become bombarded with the trimmings of the "Christmas Season:" Christmas songs, Christmas parties, Christmas cookies, Christmas decorations, etc. This begins with the stores decorating for Christmas and piping Christmas music over their speakers beginning sometime in October--all under the label of putting customers in the "Christmas Spirit." To the average retail store, this "Christmas Spirit" is really just an excuse to hope that people will start thinking about Christmas much earlier, and so buy more gifts in this extended time of preparation.

Many people follow this lead and try to "get into the Christmas spirit" by listening to Christmas music, having Christmas parties, putting up Christmas decorations, etc. The unfortunate side-effect to that is the actual celebration of Christmas becomes an after-thought. I can remember being a boy and getting all excited for Christmas, listening to songs, wearing a santa hat, going to parties, etc., but when Christmas Day actually came, we excitedly opened presents, and then I was left with this feeling of "now what?" It seemed to me that all the songs sung of Christmas Day as this great occasion, but by the time that the clock struck noon, the excitement had already waned, save the fascination with whatever new toys I had received. Something about Christmas Day seemed a little empty, but I could never place it.

On the other hand, we have the Church, and Her seemingly antiquated approach of preparing for Christmas by holding off from any celebratory activity until the event itself, and then following through with a full season of celebration (what was previously the 12 days of Christmas and is now a variable length season). This is the 4th week of Advent--the final approach to the celebration of Christmas, yet when I go to Mass, I won't hear songs like Oh Come all Ye Faithful until Saturday evening. What I will hear is something more like O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation (building with it's Gaudete on the third--rose-colored--Sunday, and it's O antiphons of this week), but not yet a time of celebration.

The question I wrestle with every year is this: To what extent should my personal life be like the liturgy (no Christmas until Christmas), and how much it should be like the retail industry (Christmas begins in October and ends on Christmas morning)?

Msgr. Pope has written a great post about the Advent practices of previous generations of Catholics, and he aptly considered them giants (performing penance for 40 days in preparation for celebrating the Christmas season). Surely their feats were greater than mine (perhaps staving off the consumption of a few cookies until Christmas day has arrived). These ancient practices are fascinating, but I wonder how one could perform them today (or if one should not bother). How can one avoid every Christmas party that occurs before Christmas? (Should one do so?) How can one encourage others to delay their parties until the Christmas season has begun? What about those who will only be able to be home before Christmas? There are, indeed, many questions, but as the years pass, and I try to conform myself a little more to the liturgy, and each year, the celebration of Christmas Day and the Christmas Season continues to be more meaningful. I wonder how to balance being in the world (not being a snob to those who celebrate Christmas early) while trying not to be of the world (not falling to the commercialized over-celebration of Christmas before it actually gets here).

Amanda and I have implemented a few ways for us to have a spirit of Advent:

• Making a Jesse Tree
• Using an Advent Wreath at the dinner table with special prayers when lighting the candles
• Trying to listen to anticipatory Christmas songs (I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, I'll be home for Christmas, etc.) Advent songs, neutral winter songs (Let it Snow, etc.)

What do you think? How do you balance the Advent & Christmas seasons?