jesus is "a light to the nations"
Tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 2, is the Feast of the Presentation. It is also called Candlemas Day, because we bless candles for use throughout the year, and it is known as Little Christmas, because it is a brief, one-day, reprise of the Christmas story. We have kept our Christmas decorations up, waiting for the feast.
The Gospel for that day tells of the Joseph and Mary bringing Jesus to the Temple to consecrate Him to the Lord as their firstborn child. Recall that the firstborn of the Egyptians died in the 10th plague, the night of Passover. The Hebrews were spared this fate, and they were set free to leave Egypt. Every Hebrew family was required then to bring their firstborn son to the Temple, and to give him to God. He belonged to God because they had been spared this terrible fate.
After presenting the child, the family would buy him back with some sacrifice, depending on the financial position of the family. For a poor family, like Mary and Joseph, the price was two doves. This purchase of their child was called “redeeming” the child.
After they present the child, Simeon, who was promised that he would not die until he witnessed the coming of the Messiah to the Temple, referred to the child as a “light to the nations.”
The Church blesses candles on this day, that will be used throughout the coming year. If you have candles that you wish to use at home, bring them to Mass that day, and I will bless them, along with the candles we will be using here at church over the coming year.
The Gospel for that day tells of the Joseph and Mary bringing Jesus to the Temple to consecrate Him to the Lord as their firstborn child. Recall that the firstborn of the Egyptians died in the 10th plague, the night of Passover. The Hebrews were spared this fate, and they were set free to leave Egypt. Every Hebrew family was required then to bring their firstborn son to the Temple, and to give him to God. He belonged to God because they had been spared this terrible fate.
After presenting the child, the family would buy him back with some sacrifice, depending on the financial position of the family. For a poor family, like Mary and Joseph, the price was two doves. This purchase of their child was called “redeeming” the child.
After they present the child, Simeon, who was promised that he would not die until he witnessed the coming of the Messiah to the Temple, referred to the child as a “light to the nations.”
The Church blesses candles on this day, that will be used throughout the coming year. If you have candles that you wish to use at home, bring them to Mass that day, and I will bless them, along with the candles we will be using here at church over the coming year.