PRESENTATION OF THE LORD//Purification of Mary//Candle mass// Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

 WONDERING GURU 

It’s the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. What? It’s also called the feast of the Purification of Mary? My Jesus! Does such feast exist? It’s also called as Christmas Feast. Don’t tell me! It is also the Feast of the consecrated life. How many feasts? Finally it’s also called feast of Candle mass. OMG why Candles?  

PRESENTATION OF THE LORD- in the temple because by the Jewish Law the first born belonged to the Lord (Ex 13:1-2) however the first born could be redeemed (bought back) by paying five shekels (Num 18:15-16) only 40 days after his birth. The act of presentation in the temple represented fulfilling of God’s command. It recalled God’s deed of deliverance from slavery and reminded the deep love of God for His people.

PURIFICATION OF MARY- because according to the Mosaic Law a mother who had given birth to a boy was considered unclean for seven days (Lev 12:6-7). Also, she was to remain 33 days ‘in the blood of her purification”. Our Lady did not need this purification because we believe she was a virgin however she underwent this rite to fulfill the Law.

CHRISTMAS FEAST- since it points back to the Solemnity of Christmas. Some Catholics in some parts of the world practice the tradition of keeping out the Nativity crèche or other Christmas decorations until this feast.

FEAST OF THE ENCOUNTER: Pope Francis likes to call this feast as an encounter. The first encounter between Jesus and his people, represented by Simeon and Anna. It was also the first encounter between the young and the old: the young were Mary and Joseph with their infant son and the old were Simeon and Anna.  It is a unique encounter between observance and prophecy, where young people are the observers and the elderly are prophets!

FEAST OF THE CONSECRATED LIFE- Because of this feast this day is dedicated to the religious priests and nuns. By baptism all of us are consecrated to the Lord however some are especially consecrated by their religious vows. It’s a day of renewal of commitment.

CANDLE  MASS-To remind us that at Christmas Jesus came as the true Light of the world. It signals the end of the “Christmas-time” and looks forward to the light that will shatter all darkness at the Easter Vigil — when another candlelight service will remind us that, “the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light” (Mt 4:16). By lighting candles we carry in us the light of Christ. Like the candle we are called to give light by ‘melting away’ like Jesus on the Cross.  Every Christian belongs to Christ so everyone has an obligation to renew their commitment and zeal for the Lord and His works; To rekindle the fire of faith and love.  So as we celebrate this feast let’s remember that we belong to the Lord, we are consecrated and that we are called to be the Light of the world. Happy Feast!