By Rev. Ronald Jansen
Several years ago news commentator Harry Reasoner called February the useless month. Though it’s the shortest month, yet it seems the longest. By February, we’re sick of winter and spring is no where in sight. Indeed, when I lived in Minn. and Wis., sometime in February I would inform God that I had been shoveling His snow for at least two months. From now on if He put snow in my driveway, He could see to it that he took away again. God never listened.
Whatever we might think of February, the month starts out in a big way with Ground Hogs Day, the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus and Candlemas.
The 1999 issue of Sundays and Seasons (Augsburg Fortress) brings all three celebrations together.
“Forty days after the birth of Christ we celebrate his presentation in the temple by his parents. Two aged saints, Anna and Simeon, recognize him as the promised messiah. Simeon speaks the words of the beloved Nunc dimittis in which he calls Jesus a “light for the nations.”
This day is also called Candlemas, a traditional time to bless candles for the coming year. An old reading for this festival from Zephaniah contains the line, I will search Jerusalem with candles.
We are midway between winter and spring, and the custom of the groundhog looking for his shadow symbolizes our hope for the coming light and warmth of spring”
Almighty and ever-living God, as Your only begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the substance of our flesh, grant that we may be presented to You with .pure and clean hearts; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the



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