Feast of the Presentation/ “A Light Dispels the Grayness”

Feast of the Presentation/  “A Light Dispels the Grayness”  

We opened Mass in a different way today.  We celebrate a Christmas Feast.  By that I mean that this is a feast when we remember the incarnation (God becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ).

            The Feast of the Presentation happens halfway between the Winter Solstice (shortest day of the year) and the Spring Equinox (where there is just as much light as darkness).  In northern Europe in pre-Christian times, the people followed the movements of the stars and the planets.  Also, they were very in tune with the solar calendar.  The common human experience was that this was darkest time of the year.  And there was dreariness that caused peoples spirits to be sink. 

            For these reasons, it was thought that this was a good time to have a religious festival.  The different religions would have processions with fires and light.  The people would engage in feasting and frivolity. Sacrifice would be made to the Gods.  Prayers would be said asking for the return of the light to the earth. All this picked up their spirits.

            The Christian Church did what it does so often when it evangelizes different cultures.  The Church Christianized what was already in place.  The theologians remembered that 40 days after the birth of Christ he was taken to the temple.  He was dedicated to the Lord.  Jesus was a first-born son.  First born sons literally belonged to God.  The parents went to the temple to buy their sons back.  Usually, this involved a monetary donation.  Another rite that was celebrated was the rite of purification.  A woman was expected to make a sacrifice to God after the safe delivery of a baby.  Since blood was discharged in the birthing process, it was thought that this was necessary. 

            Luke rolls all these temple experiences into one episode.  We notice in this gospel that a fee is not paid to buy Jesus back.  Perhaps this was a recognition that Jesus was wholly dedicated to the Lord.  He belonged to God the Father.  He always had.  He always would. 

            Another tradition developed on this day.  Light was important as Christians stumbled around in the dark of winter.  Candles were one way of creating artificial light.  The faithful would bring candles to the church today to have them blessed.  During the year these same candles would be lit whenever people would pray at home.  The candles that would be used in church services would also be blessed on Candlemas day.

            A candle was a sign that the true light of the world had come.  Jesus, the savior, had been born.  His was a steady gentle light.  Not a glaring light that comes and goes.  But Jesus is a constant light that burns for all time.  Simeon and Anna, who we meet in this gospel, are human manifestation of all of us.  Both recognized Jesus. Both saw him for who he was (a savior).  We can imagine that dozens of babies were being brought to the temple daily.  Simeon and Anna had gone to the temple throughout their lives looking for the coming Messiah.  The Old Testament speaks often of the light to the nations coming.  Isaiah 42:6 says, “I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the Gentiles.”  Simeon and Anna were able to pick Jesus out of the lineup.  Why?  These two elderly people were persistent believers who lived in hopeful expectation.  Both took time to pray and look.

            We probably listen to everything that has just been said.  Maybe we say to ourselves.  “Modern sophisticated minds do not need all of this ritual to be reassured.  But if we think this, we are mistaken.  Look around you. We hear of SAD (seasonal affective disorder).  We need light to be healthy.

            We begin February, one of the most difficult months of the year.  We are in the height of flu season.  We are constantly bombarded by news that our country is in a governmental crisis.  Elections are starting.   When we woke up in the morning recently, we ask three questions.  “Will it be a light gray day?  Will it be a medium gray day?   Or will it be a dark gray day? We want to crawl under our sunlamp. If someone is walking around with a plastic smile beware.

            How can we cope?  Those who can let go of responsibilities and have the money, jet off to a warm place.  Another way to escape is to create holidays to lift our spirits.  Why not have Super Bowl Sunday? Notice, we get this civic celebration as far away from the holidays as possible.  How about Valentine’s day? St. Patrick’s Day is another day to lift our spirits.  Drink some green beer and have a parade. How different we are from our ancestors? The thing we notice is these ways of coping only last for a time.  The high wears off.

            Could Simeon be our role model for these February days.  He seems like person filled with joy. He doesn’t deny pain.  He also doesn’t wallow in it.  Where did his joy come from?  His joy didn’t come from the fact he beat the point spread to win a pay out on the game.  His joy came from living in a hopeful expectation fueled by prayer.  He carried the light of God.  He basked in that light.  He said, in the end, I have found peace.  Simeon’s joy came from looking and listening for God.  And one day he was rewarded. For he was privileged to look on the very face of God.