 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Thursday, February 2, 2023 The Feast of the Presentation the Purification of Mary Candlemas, Groundhog Day, St Bridget’s day Feb 2 – A Day with Many Meanings February 2 is celebrated all over the world, by all sorts of groups, for similar, but not identical reasons, some of which overlap. Imbolc In some pre-Christian cultures this day was celebrated as the mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere. It was considered the actual first day of spring. So it signified anticipation of the warmth of advancing light, the lengthening of daylight hours, and the fertility of the soil and the animals. St Brigid’s Day Brigid was considered a goddess in Celtic traditions associated with Imbolc, but there was but there was also a real human saint who bore her name. Brigid was born in Ireland, and became abbess of the monastery she founded at Kildare. She founded other convents as well, and died in her old age, in 525 AD. In her honor a perpetual fire was kept burning at Kildare. She is remembered for not directly challenging pagan customs – including the traditional bonfires – but adapting them to Christian faith – including the celebration of lights – Her name may have been changed to reflect the goddess, and she is honored for the same virtues and gifts of her pagan antecedent – including poetry, healing protection, care of land and animals. Groundhog Day This involves a sort of fun, harmless superstition – also based on that date, mid-point between winter and spring. If the groundhog sees his shadow today (as he assuredly would have done in Bolivar!) it means he ought to retreat underground for another six weeks before winter will be over.If he doesn’t, if it’s grey and cloudy, spring is on its way. This is often seen as the best time to prepare the ground for spring planting.  Candlemas When we think of Candlemas, we are thinking of Jesus, who came into the darkness of the world as Light. It is often celebrated with processions, carrying lighted candles into a dark church, and the blessing of other candles to be used throughout the rest of the year. As with the other two names for this Christian feast, it is based in the verses from Luke 2:22-40: which include the words spoken by the aged Simeon: “Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see; a Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people, Israel.” The Purification of Mary The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple Almost no one refers to it as the “purification” anymore, but you may still see this feast mentioned in older books and poems. The focus has shifted from the woman’s need to be “purified” to the event as it seems to have been remembered in the Gospel of Luke – where the focus is on Jesus. In the Jewish tradition of Jesus’ day, the mother of firstborn son was considered ritually unclean for 40 days, after which she was “purified.” (See Leviticus 2:2-8). At this time also, the child was brought to the Temple to be dedicated to the Lord. The Gospel of Luke describes it this way: “And when the time came for her purification, according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” But this is important too –It you read the story in Luke, you will notice that it was not any of the other busy, young people who recognized Jesus – and not official, either. It was the aged and devout Simeon – and also, “There was a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age…having lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” It was the old ones, the faithful ones who simply watched and waited for the Lord. Anna and Simeon aren’t the only ones who look for the redemption of the world and who may read the signs of the times better than anyone else. Honor the old people you know.And if you are old, know that your wisdom matters. You see what younger eyes cannot see. In our youth-oriented culture, it is easy to dismiss the elderly – but it is unwise.Let Simeon and Anna be the ones who help us remember that every age, every stage of life, has its own gifts to offer…   |
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