Transcript
Forty days ago we celebrated Christmas. Yes, it has been forty days already! And in good tradition today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord. This is when Joseph and Mary take the child to the temple. The Christmas event involved the birth of a child with all the human aspects of a delivery, including contact with blood. Hence today, forty days of the postpartum period is also the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In some countries, today is also known as Candlemas. Some countries like France and Belgium celebrate today with crepes. I grew up in Mexico, for us the Presentation of the Lord is connected to the Epiphany of the Lord on the sixth of January when we celebrate the revelation of Jesus, the Son of God, to the Magi, or the three kings that visited baby Jesus in Bethlehem. In Mexico, families gather on the feast of the Epiphany to break bread, a special bread that we call Rosca de Reyes, kings cake. This bread has a hidden doll representing Jesus. As people cut through the bread, we check and we search, in hopes that the slice given will reveal Jesus. The person who finds it is honoured in becoming a “god parent” for baby Jesus, and they bring a figure to the Candlemas, today, and present it to all on this the second of February. Naturally, a gathering of families and friends follows with some traditional tamales.
In some countries, today, people bring candles to the Church to be blessed and to be used for the rest of the year. These candles serve as a symbol that reminds us that like Simeon our eyes have seen the salvation, that Jesus is the light that enlightens our life. Let us make Jesus our light, let us come close to Him. And as we come to Mass this weekend and you see Jesus rising and hear the words, Behold the Lamb of God, I invite you to look at Him at the altar and bless God for your eyes would have seen the light of salvation.