40 Days
Later... February
2, 40 days after Christmas, is packed with theological and liturgical
significance. A special Feast day in the Church calendar, it is often
overlooked when, as in most years, it falls on a weekday. The official name
is: The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple. It is
also recognized as The Purification of Mary because the Law of
Moses required that she ~ like the Infant Jesus ~ participate in a rite of
purification 40 days after childbirth. Its importance underscores that Mary and
Joseph raised Jesus in faithful observance of his ancestral religion, a point
of significance in his ministry to come. It also serves to reference the requirements
of women and girls in childbirth and menstruation set out in brief in Leviticus
12:1-8. The Rite could be extended for the woman having given birth,
especially to a girl-child, to as long as 66 days, highlighting in the
Leviticus reading the required burnt offering and sin offering of the woman,
the ancient and often continuing implication that women and girls, because of
the blood, were/are more unclean and sin-filled than their male counterparts.
That said, Dr. Gafney tells us that while the practice sounds harsh for the
woman, it likely also offered some time for healing and rest as well as
maternal bonding with her newborn.
In one sense, it’s very much like The
Churching of Women once used widely in Catholic and Anglican churches.
Women refrained from returning to church for 4-6 weeks after childbirth. In
those times women didn’t even attend the baptism/christening of their children
and experienced isolation in the terms of being unchurched if only
temporarily. When they returned, after offering a prayer of thanksgiving, they were given a blessing. This ritual has,
mercifully, fallen into disuse.
Some Christian calendars mark this
as the official end of the Christmas season ~ because beyond the “12 Days
of Christmas” between Christmas Day and the Epiphany ~ this day concludes
the 40 Days of the Incarnation. In some practices, the day is
also Candlemas, a traditional time to bless candles for liturgical
use. And of course, the period of time of “40” in itself is
frequently used throughout the Hebrew and Christian Testaments of The
Bible and Christian practice to highlight auspicious activities such as the
Israelites wandering 40 years before reaching the Promised Land, and the 40
days of Jesus in the wilderness to prepare for his active ministry. In some
Christian denominations we employ 40 days of repentance and fasting in the
period of Lent before the Resurrection [though importantly, those 40 days
exclude Sundays…stayed tuned for more on that when Lent begins].
The focus of today’s readings for us is the Infant's
Presentation in the Temple in Jerusalem ~ a fulfillment of prophecy, a
revelation. The prophet Simeon, whose name means “God has heard,” is an aged,
righteous, and devout man waiting for the promised sight of the Messiah before
he will know death. The Holy Spirit has guided him to this moment and as he
takes this Child in his arms, his joy is palpable. In a modern translation his
prayer, said in the Daily Office in the Book of Common Prayer [www.BCPonline.org], says:
Lord, you now have set your servant free
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.
Another aged
prophet, Anna, is present. She lived in the Temple full time worshipping,
fasting, and praying. Her name means “full of grace,” and she breaks out in
praise of God and tells everyone about this special Baby. We, too, can easily
get caught up in this moment ~ remember the excitement of special births,
baptisms or christenings in your family?
Then in the midst of the all the elation, Simeon gives Mary a
hint of things to come when he says, “This Child is destined for the falling
and rising of many in Israel…a sign that will be opposed…a sword will pierce
your own soul too.” Given all that Mary and Joseph have experienced so far ~
Angel announcements, the difficult journey to Bethlehem, the birth in less than
ideal circumstances, shepherds, heavenly choruses, Wise Men, and prophetic
dreams…one can barely imagine what the young new mother, Mary, is thinking.
Perhaps Cornish poet Charles Causley’s words give voice to Mary’s thoughts and
to every parent’s hopeful yet anxious wish:
Vivid upon her tongue
Unspoken prayers
That she may not outlive
The life she bears.
We
know what is coming in the life of Jesus. May our prayers be spoken through our
thoughts, words, and actions, bringing consolation, courage for the tests we
shall encounter, and the light of salvation to enlighten the world around us in
service to our God in Christ. May these of eyes of our hearts, our minds,
and our souls, stay present to, with, and in the love of Christ, for God, for others,
and for ourselves as we have been so commanded.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O FIRE of SINAI, we present ourselves to You to fill our hearts,
minds, and souls with the joy of Simeon and the constant presence of Your
wisdom and strength. Guide our feet, our hands, and our mouths, to live Christ’s
Mission and Ministry, in caring for all God’s people, acting and speaking with words
of peace to all we meet.
Our God and Guide Forever and Ever
Purify and Restore Us
~ O FIRE of SINAI,
grant us continuing perseverance with our faith in Jesus, our Messiah born of
You, whose provocation within us may inspire the rising of leadership that grants
mercy, sustenance, and justice, as a voice for the vulnerable and all the
people of Your Creation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Our God and Guide Forever and Ever
Purify and Restore Us
~ O FIRE of SINAI, we
ask Your healing and hope for all who are tested through illness, fear, or
desperation, and stamina for those who tend to their needs. We now join
our hearts to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
Our God and Guide Forever and Ever
Purify and Restore Us
~ O FIRE of SINAI, grant
peace in our deserts of sorrow, as the ones whose loss we mourn, enter the
everlasting doors of Heaven, welcomed by our wise and loving Lord. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
Our God and Guide Forever and Ever
Purify and Restore Us
~ O FIRE of SINAI, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add your own petitions
Our God and Guide Forever and Ever
Purify and Restore Us
~ O FIRE of SINAI, enlighten
and excite Your anointed prophets and disciples of our own day, who pray with
and for us, baptize and confirm us, and instruct, encourage, and travel with us
through our earthly sojourn. We pray especially for: add your own
petitions
Our
God and Guide Forever and Ever
Purify
and Restore Us
The Celebrant adds: O Jesus, God’s
Light of Revelation and Glory, we, the humble stewards of Your message of
salvation, rejoice with Simeon and Anna, Mary and Joseph, and prepare ourselves
for the many risings and fallings yet to come in our own lives. Faithfully
freed from the fear of earthly death, we re-dedicate ourselves to You on this
day and ask Your blessings for strength and integrity through Jesus, our Christ
and our Salvation; and the Holy Spirit, our Divine Wisdom; who live and reign
with You as one God, now and for all eternity. Amen.
*Readings for our Parish in this Year C are from The Rev.
Dr. Wilda [Wil] Gafney, Womanist biblical scholar, and the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor
of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She is the
author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church Yr C, and
others in her series, and translator of its biblical selections. I definitely
commend her book for the complete readings, to Clergy and Laity, for her Text Notes,
and “Preaching Prompts” whether or not you will use them in your
Liturgies/Services/Preaching. There is much to learn from her work to inform
every facet of our lives in Christ. To learn more about her and her work,
see her website: https://www.wilgafney.com/
