Issue 973 – Groundhog Day – February 2, 2023
It’s Groundhog Day. All over North America, and Australia, people will wonder if the groundhog emerged from its den and whether it saw its own shadow. If the sky is clear and the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of Winter. No shadow means Spring will come early.
This silly but fun superstition has ancient roots. One source says, “The earliest mention of Groundhog Day is an entry on February 2, 1840, in the diary of James L. Morris of Morgantown, in Pennsylvania Dutch Country…”
The celebration has its roots in an ancient Germanic tradition where the animal in question was a badger. Presumably, someone saw badgers emerge from their holes and thought there was a correlation to the appearance of Spring.
There is also a Christian tradition associated with February 2. The early church tried to redeem various pagan practices and celebrations (with varying degrees of success). Today is Candlemas, a celebration of light.
Candlemas is 40 days after Christmas, making it the day that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to be dedicated in keeping with Jewish religious law. Like the arbitrary choice of Christmas, the date is likely wrong, but the event is historical.
And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:22-24
At the temple, the family encountered two people significant enough to warrant mention in the text. Simeon, the elderly man, and Anna, the prophetess, had long awaited the coming of the Messiah (see Luke 2).
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:25-32
Simeon referred to the child as a light to the Gentiles. As a commemoration of that event, the tradition of taking candles to church that day, the celebration of Candlemas began.
It didn’t work in completely replacing the weather forecasting rodent. A new weather forecast emerged,” If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter has another flight. If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Winter will not come again.”
Weather forecasting and wrong dates aside, we can celebrate the coming of Jesus, the light of the world and a light unto Gentiles. We can appreciate the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph in attempting to keep the Law of Moses.
Enjoy the day and wonder what the groundhog will see, but don’t forget to celebrate the one who came to bring us forgiveness and eternal life.
Happy Groundhog Day. Happy Candlemas. May Jesus be celebrated every day.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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