February 2, the fortieth day of the nativity, commemorates the presentation of Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:22-40) in accord with the legislation of Leviticus 12:2-8 concerning the firstborn male.  Central to this occasion are the two great worthies, Simeon and Anna, whose patient faith is rewarded by great joy.  The attribution of Simeon that Jesus shall be a light for revelation to the Gentiles inspired the custom of having a ceremony of candles at the Mass on this day; candles to be used through the next year were blessed on this occasion, and the faithful were given lighted candles, in token of the light of Christ.  Hence  the observance has been called ‘Candlemas.’

That the day is commonly known as ‘Groundhog Day’ is more than a source of amusement; it is something of a testimony to the enduring power of superstition even among those who say Christ is their light.  News reporters, who have no clue to what the Presentation of Jesus is about, rush to see a furry rodent emerge from hibernation as a presumed omen concerning when winter will end.  May this be an indicator of the great difficulty with which the Great Exchange comes into our lives?

- Laurence Hull Stookey, Calendar: Christ’s Time for the Church

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”

⁹(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? ¹⁰He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (ESV).

What did Jesus give?  His grace.  His favor.  And that favor is particularly expressed through the giving of people to equip the saints and build up the church.  (The gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as a result of Christ’s ascension appears to underlie this section, particularly verses 3-7.)  While Jesus may have bodily ascended, He has not left His Church without help in the form of flesh and blood.

Also note, in verse 8, that Paul quotes from Psalm 68.  Meditate on the entirety of that psalm in the light of Christ’s passion, resurrection, and ascension, and it will take on a whole new depth of meaning, inspiring us to sing it all the more vigorously – even this Lord’s Day in our Ascension celebration.

Maundy Thursday is the first day of the Triduum (pronounced TRID-oo-um).  This is a Latin term simply meaning, “three days,” and consists of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. The word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin mandatum, meaning “mandate” or “command.”  At the last supper Jesus gave the disciples a mandatum novum: a “new commandment I give to you, that you love one another” (John 13:34).  Also during the upper room scene, Jesus washed the disciples feet and celebrated a meal with them.  Foot-washing has long been practiced on Maundy Thursday in varying groups in the church, including the Brethren and Seventh Day Adventists.  The climax of the worship on this day is the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.  While it might seem to be appropriate for the Lord’s Supper on this evening to have somewhat of a somber tone, it is more accurate for the meal to be one of great celebration.  Jesus establishes a new meal, and the essence of this meal is reflected in the table appearances He makes to his followers after the resurrection.  Jesus is recognized in the breaking of the bread, so we read the resurrection back into the upper room.  “We praise God for taking what might have been nothing more than a sad farewell of teacher and disciples and transforming it into a way of revealing the presence of the Risen One.  We praise God for turning an occasion for mourning into an occasion of profound gratitude.  On Holy Thursday the church lifts up the fist of faith and shakes it defiantly at every potential evildoer, saying, ‘We have this meal to strengthen and sustain us.  It is the reliable promise of divine power and presence always in our midst.  We will fear no evil, because our God submits to no destroyer, not even death.  Thanks be to God for the gift of this meal!’  Only when we have shouted defiantly at the hosts of evil are we ready to confront them more directly; and so the Holy Thursday service proceeds to recall the passion of the Lord and thus to prepare for Friday” (Stookey, 95*).

Good Friday. What’s “good” about it?  The term “Good Friday” may be a corruption of the English phrase “God’s Friday,” but can still be considered good because the events of the day are the working out and fulfillment of the perfect plan of God.  It is certainly a day of great solemnity, but we should not treat it as a funeral service for Jesus.  Although it is a time for serious contemplation of the saving work of Christ and what He has done for the Church and for us individually as believers, it also affords the opportunity to “consider how best we can present to the world the redemption of God, both by word and deed” (Stookey, 99-100*).  The occasion of Calvary pictures the great condescension of the love of God, and not only for His people, but for all of creation.  One of the services commonly associated with Good Friday is the Tenebrae, or Service of Darkness.  Tenebrae, which means “darkness” or “shadows,” is a Holy Week Devotion dating back to at least the seventh or eighth century A.D.  It is characterized by the successive extinguishing of candles as the service progresses, symbolizing the darkness that overcame the world as a result of the Crucifixion of our Lord.

Holy Saturday has been called The Great Vigil since antiquity.  There a number of variations to this day and how it is celebrated.  A service could begin is at dusk on Saturday, or before daybreak on Easter morning—hence the practice of sunrise services on Easter.  Others hold the service at a later hour on Saturday, so that it ends after midnight on Sunday.  The primary component is for the service begin in virtual darkness.  Four basic parts are typically found in the celebration of this day.  1) Service of Light—candles are central, and, among many things, pictures the light leading out of the darkness in the history of Israel, and now in Christ. 2) Service of the Word—readings that cover the scope of salvation history from creation to the restoration of Israel from exile, and the major themes of Lent are revisited.  3) Baptism and Reaffirmation—typically adult converts, after having gone through Lent as a time of instruction and discipleship, would be baptized.  All present would recite the Apostles’ Creed, reaffirming the faith into which they had also been baptized.  4) Eucharist—a joyful celebration of the Lord’s Supper, and for those who have fasted in preparation, a real “breaking fast” as they enjoy this meal prepared by the Risen Savior.  The various components can constitute a single service, or be broken up into various services.  The keeping of Holy Saturday has remained in Roman Catholic and Anglican churches, but is not as common among other churches.  As mentioned already, an Easter sunrise service is derived from The Great Vigil.

*Laurence Hull Stookey, Calendar: Christ’s Time for the Church.