Today is Groundhog Day. A former Bishop that I know and appreciate enjoyed going to Punxsutawney with his family. It was a full celebration. For those of you that have made the official pilgrimage, you know of its fun and frivolity. When I found this out, I was surprised. Phil, the Groundhog, after all, is not actually a very good seasonal predictor. He is usually less accurate than a coin toss and the "spring is just around the corner" phrase sounds a big vague. I have known far too many early spring snow storms to get too invested. Yet, this smart and savvy Bishop sat before me and described it with a sparkle of fun in his eyes. It had become a family ritual of fun and good times.
Rituals can take many forms. They can be serious and necessary. They can be something
Disney
fun that you do every year because it is a bit of living life and celebrating the goofiness of what it means to be a creature in this amazing Creation. Today is the Presentation of Jesus. If you are not familiar with the story, you might imagine that this is Jesus' "Simba" moment. In the movie, "The Lion King," the young lion is presented by the "priest" to all of the animal kingdom in a moment of lifting up. The music soars and the scene is recorded on posters. Yet, for Jesus, the ritual takes on a spiritual and prophetic moment. Simeon's Song is often what gets replayed from the soundtrack. For Jesus' family, money was tight. The minimum payment for the sacrifice was made. Scholars also note that a priest was not paid, which highlights that the child did not need to be redeemed. His lineage was priestly.
What rituals do you do every year? When have you noticed a moment take a spiritual or prophetic turn upward?
Luke 2:22-40
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 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 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 to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Let our prayers of thanksgiving rise before you, O God. May our celebrations and marking of time be a praise of your goodness. We are grateful for times of joy and laughter. We long for days of great social togetherness. Help us in these times to remember and to look ahead. Hook our hearts with your living Hope. Bless and be with, O great God, those that we lift before you,... We praise you for your providence, healing, and leading in our lives. In the Name of the Christ, Jesus our loving Lord, we pray. Amen.
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