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The season of Epiphany like other seasons of the church year has various minor festivals. Two of these minor festivals are The Confession of Saint Peter (January 18) and one week later The Conversion of Saint Paul (January 29). One minor festival that is rarely celebrated and generally unknown occurs on February 2nd. The date, February 2nd is a day of "Presentations."

Almost every one knows that that on that date a certain ground hog in Pennsylvania comes out of his hole to investigate the weather and the folk lore is that the arrival of spring depends on the furry creature seeing or not seeing his shadow when presented to the world. Another less known presentation occurring on February 2nd is "The Presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple."

This ancient event is described in the Gospel of Luke (2:22-40). As written in the Gospel Mary and Joseph take their young child to the Temple in Jerusalem as according to Jewish law at that time forty days after Jesus is born. (Forty days after December 25 is February 2). Jewish law at Bible time required a new mother to complete the ritual of "purification" after childbirth and the firstborn child to complete the ritual of "redemption of the firstborn." Mary is "purified" so she can be allowed to reenter the Temple forty days after childbirth. Jesus, as a firstborn child is presented in the Temple to be "redeemed." Upon entering the Temple the Holy Family visit with Simeon who God promised that he would live to see before he dies the savior:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’

Luke 2:25-32

Simeon's prayer is used in our Liturgy, and is known as the "Nunc Dimittis." Thus Jesus is "presented" in the Temple as a firstborn child and to the world as Christ, the Savior. During the season of Epiphany Jesus is regarded as "The Light of the World."

Here at Christ Church we are celebrating Jesus as "The Light of the World" with a growing candle procession and presence during worship in that one candle for each Sunday in Epiphany will be present for that particular Sunday - for example the Fourth Sunday in Epiphany will have four candles. An appropriate tie-in to the growing presence of candles and the two presentations on February 2nd is another commemoration called "Candlemas."

The roots of Candlemas date from ancient pagan times when candles are blessed during the half point of winter as a sign that candles provide light in a dark time of the year. Perhaps unknown to many is that Candlemas and Ground Hog Day are related in their theme. We all know of the ground hog's prediction of spring, so also Candlemas has its prediction of spring:

"If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go winter, and not come again."

So the date February second is a date of presentations and predictions of spring. It can be concluded that the overall theme of February 2nd is LIGHT. The light is then the groundhog coming out into the light of day, the "light given by candles" and "The Light of Christ." In this light the hope for spring is revealed and the promise of Jesus as Christ Our Savior is revealed to us all.

Contributed by J. Scott Borthwick