Candlemas Day

Not only is February second "Groundhog Day", but more importantly in the Liturgical Year, it is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, that is, when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple to fulfill the Law of Moses which prescribed that a first-born male should be presented to God in thanksgiving for the sparing of the first-born children during the 10th plague. It was also the occasion for the mother to offer a sacrifice of purification for her legal stain. Hence, being poor, Mary and Joseph offered two turtle doves. The significance is the Presentation lies in the symbolic union of Jesus with his father, and with us, as a human being subject to the same laws as other Jews. Later, he equates the Temple with himself. "Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up."
The observance of the Feast includes the blessing of the new candles to be used at Church and at home. Often a procession with the newly blessed lighted candles takes place as part of the liturgy. The candle, made of beewax represents the humanity of Jesus, and the light, his divinity, as "the light of the world." Because of the weather, not many people will be able participate in the liturgy, however our friend GOOGLE (under Candlemas Day) offers brief and informative articles and prayers that can be said at home. In dealing with our "snow frustrations", we are reminded of just how human we are, so let us look to Christ to be our LIGHT.
Bro. Rene