Galilean Jesus

Will he see his shadow?  Our Lord’s?   No, Punxsutawney Phil’s.   Please Phil, don’t see your shadow.  Enough snow already!  

Today is Groundhog Day when Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania.   The President of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle holds Phil up to the sky.   Phil’s job: predict the weather for the rest of the winter.   No shadow means an early spring; otherwise, six more weeks of cold and snow.   

Phil is “presented” to the citizens and thousands of his followers around the world (crazy) as part of this annual tradition of a fun and funny event during winter’s peak.   He gives us an odd sort of hope that the light and warmth of spring are near.

Today is also “The Presentation of the Lord.”   According to Luke, Simeon “came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:  ‘Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

Simeon, held the child Jesus when he was “presented.”   Shadow or not, it didn’t matter.   The light had come then and there.  Simeon recognized the hope the Galilean Jesus provided.  We do the same.

Now we wait for Lent that fast approaches.   Our focus won’t be on Gobbler’s Knob.  It will be on Calvary and the light of Christ.

Deacon David Pierce