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

[God] makes use of angels to comfort our weakness, that we may lack nothing at all that can raise up our minds to good hope, or confirm them in security.  One thing, indeed, ought to be quite enough for us: that the Lord declares himself to be our protector.  But when we see ourselves beset by so many perils, so many harmful things, so many kinds of enemies – such is our softness and frailty – we would sometimes be filled with trepidation or yield to despair if the Lord did not make us realize the presence of his grace according to our capacity.  For this reason, he not only promises to take care of us, but tells us he has innumerable guardians whom he has bidden to look after our safety; that so long as we are hedged about by their defense and keeping, whatever perils may threaten, we have been placed beyond all chance of evil” (I.14.11).

A childish book, like a childish person, is limited, unspontaneous, closed in . . . But the childlike book, like the childlike person, breaks out of all boundaries. And joy is the key. Several years ago we took our children to Monticello, and I remember the feeling we all had of the fun Jefferson must have had with his experiments, his preposterous perpetual clock, for instance: what sheer, childlike delight it must have given him. Perhaps Lewis Carroll was really happy only when he was with children, especially when he was writing for them. Joy sparks the pages of Alice [in Wonderland], and how much more profound it is than most of his ponderous works for grownups. . . . But in the battering around of growing up the child gets hurt, and he puts on a shell of protection; he is frightened, and he slams doors. Real maturity lies in having the courage to open doors again, or, when they are pointed out, to go through them.

I especially love that last sentence.

None of us will ever get our minds around a God of play who is the Ancient of Days, and we should laugh in wonder at such a thought.  And as we find ourselves in the season of Advent and looking to Christmas, let us remember that Wisdom became a child, and there was great joy in Heaven at that event.  So great that it spilled over into our dimension, and was witnessed by shepherds and sheep!  Let us imitate Heaven’s joy, and we will know something more of Heaven’s maturity and the courage it engenders.

Apparently, there are others who also share the fault.  Athletic director Tim Curley and university vice president Gary Schultz have both left Penn State as result of the their involvement, or lack thereof, with the situation.  Then there’s Mike McQueary who witnessed the aforementioned incident.  Why didn’t he go to the police or be more proactive at the time about what he saw? Granted, he is not the face of Penn St., but what was he thinking that didn’t warrant immediately calling the police?  (Here’s an interesting article that may shed some light.) Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan stated on Monday, “I don’t think I’ve ever been associated with a case with this type of eyewitness identification of sex acts taking place where the police weren’t called.”  McQueary is culpable.  So is Paterno, and all who had some knowledge of the matter (Joe Boylan doesn’t pull any punches in his editorial).

On Monday, Matt Millen, ESPN analyst and former player at Penn St., broke down in the middle of an interview and said, “if we can’t protect our kids, we, as a society, are pathetic.”  I think Mr. Millen is saying far more than he may even realize.  The simple fact of the matter is that our society does not promote the protection of our children.  Rather, it promotes exposure and loss of innocence through a wide array of means.  Consider still more, if a society is willing to kill children while they are still in the womb -  the place of places that should be one of nurture, protection and security – doesn’t it necessarily follow that there will be those in such a society that will be willing to abuse children once they’re outside the womb?  What happened at Penn State is a microcosm of America today.  And while horror and outrage are understandable (even right) responses, a healthy dose of self-examination should not be neglected.  Individuals and societies reap what they sow.  Given the evidence, the results are hardly happy.

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If you don’t already have plans on Sunday afternoon, please join us in Brentwood.  If you already have plans, then change them, and join us just the same.  You will be glad that you did.