about the art and the artist:
Father George Saget, Presentation in the Temple, 1963,
Abbaye de Keur Moussa, Senegal
Luke 2:21-35; 39-40
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be called holy to the Lord"), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord [Leviticus 12:6-8], "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 Inspired by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
28 Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,
29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."
33 And the child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against 35 that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too."
39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
February 2nd
February 2nd famously is Groundhog Day in the USA.
In addition, February 2nd is Saint Brigid's Day, and Imbolc falls around February 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. Imbolc is one of the cross-quarter festivals in Celtic spirituality and in the nature practices of some pagans. Cross-quarter refers to the mid-point between seasons, and conveys a sense of special things happening in creation during those mid-points.
Another February 2nd celebration is the Feast of Presentation of Jesus and the Purification of Mary in the Jerusalem Temple, sometimes styled as Candlemas, from Simeon's words "seen – light – revelation – glory." Candlemas is a word similar to Christmas, but rather than Christ's Mass it's Candle's Mass.
Candlemas
The early Church often celebrated Candlemas on February 14, (the biblical number of) 40 days after Christmas to mark the end of the Christmas season. In that case, just as you can wish everyone "Happy Easter" for fifty days, "Merry Christmas" is appropriate for forty days.
However, for most of us in the West, the church's year of grace still is in the season of Epiphany when we celebrate Jesus as light, redeemer, savior for all people everywhere.
Candlemas was observed in Jerusalem from about the year 350. In the West, it appears in both the Gelasian (7th century) and Gregorian (8th century) Sacramentaries. The Syriac Pope Sergius (in office from 687-701) introduced a procession with lighted candles that gave the day the name of Candlemas. We carry lighted candles at the beginning of the liturgy and light them again to listen to the gospel. (Thanks to the University of Dayton, Ohio for these details.)
Today's Gospel
Because it's also appointed for the First Sunday of Christmas in Luke's lectionary year C, you may have heard it a few times. Today's gospel brings us a very Jewish Jesus with his parents fulfilling the requirements of the ceremonial (sacrificial, ritual) religious law that Luke refers to as "Law of Moses." Please take note that in this passage law doesn't refer to the Ten Words or Commandments of the Sinai Covenant.
Although all of the gospels and everything else about Jesus is about Jesus as savior, redeemer, light of all the world, unlike Mark, Matthew, and John, Luke doesn't get specific about that kind of universalism until his volume 2, Acts of the Apostles. People sometimes cite Acts 10:10-15 when Peter learns no food is off limits, but Acts in general expands into universal salvation as the narrative unfolds. However, here close to the outset of Luke, we hear Simeon announcing "…salvation… in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
Canticles
Luke uniquely brings us three canticles or New Testament psalms; each has a particular place in the Liturgy of the Hours / Divine Office / Canonical Hours.
• Luke 1:46-55 Magnificat—Mary's song in response to the angel's announcement she will become the mother of Jesus. This canticle belongs in Evening Prayer or Vespers, typically sung at nightfall.
• Luke 1:67-79 Benedictus—John the Baptist's father Zechariah's song in response to the news of his son's upcoming birth. We sing or chant this canticle at Morning Prayer, a variable format that generally combines elements of Lauds and Matins.
• Luke 2:29-32 Nunc Dimittis—Simeon's song in response to recognizing the Savior of the world in his presence. Nunc Dimittis is the canticle for Compline or night prayer, and we sometimes sing or pray this canticle as we conclude the Eucharist. Martin Luther and John Calvin both include the Nunc Dimittis in their Eucharistic liturgies.
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