Pastoral Reflection
The Presentation of the Lord, Feb. 2, 2025, Year C
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is also known as Candlemas, for it was at this time that the candles to be used for liturgical celebrations for the rest of the year were blessed. The feast is related to light, for Christ is the Light of the World. Finally, the feast marks the moment when Mary and Joseph presented the child Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem to be consecrated to God’s service. In one sense, there is nothing special about this, for as St. Luke tells us, they were following the prescriptions of the Law for all male children. But an old man, Simeon, recognizes Jesus as the Light God has sent and who will be the glory of Israel. The Prophetess Anna, too, acknowledges that Jesus is extraordinary and begins telling all those around her about him. One can only wonder what went through the minds of Mary and Joseph!
Call to Action
Traditionally, St. Blaise’s Memorial is celebrated on Feb.3, the day after the Presentation of the Lord. One way of honoring the tradition is to offer the blessing of the throats using two of the candles blessed on the Presentation feast day. The Rite for the Blessing of the Throats can be found in the Book of Blessings. It is a much-beloved tradition and could be offered at the end of Sunday masses and, of course, on Monday, Feb.3rd. This would also be a good opportunity to invite your people to send you their prayer requests using their GC Smart Text capability. Simple sacramentals, like the blessing of the throats and asking for prayer requests, help your people feel more connected to their faith and each other. (Remember, feeling disconnected is the number one reason people walk away from practicing their faith.)
Pastoral Action Points
- GiveCentral’s Bridget Daly offered a well-received webinar last week about using Digital Wallets. If you missed it, you can watch the recording here: Digital Wallets Webinar.
- On Wednesday, February 5th, 2025, at 10 AM CST, GC’s Teresa Meyer will offer a webinar on “Enhancing your Lent Engagement and Giving.” Teresa will help you prepare for Lenten giving and show you how your GC Smart Tools can help you achieve your goals.
Last modified: January 29, 2025
