Presentation of the Lord

February 2.

Long before it was Super Bowl Sunday… long before it was Groundhog Day… it was known as Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It celebrates the time, forty days after the birth of Jesus, when Mary and Joseph went to the Temple in Jerusalem to present the infant Jesus and to be purified of their ritual uncleanness after childbirth. This they did to follow the commandments in the Law of Moses.

This Feast of the Presentation does not capture the attention or the imagination of most Catholics these days. It falls within that liturgical neutral zone between the Christmas season and Lent. It reminds us of Christmas long after we have had our fill of Christmas carols and decorations. Nevertheless, the readings for this day, and the liturgy itself, invite us to stop, look, listen and ponder. Something very important is going on. Continue reading “Purifying Our Worship”