1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
-John 1:1-5, NRSV
Tomorrow is a holiday… but perhaps not the one you think. The holiday I’m thinking of has little to do with a groundhog named Phil or his elusive shadow. Yes, tomorrow is Groundhog’s Day… but it’s also a lesser-known Christian holiday called Candlemas. Falling forty days after Christmas, Candlemas marks the biblical moment when Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus in Jerusalem’s temple. Falling at the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, Candlemas serves as a kind of celebration of light. (The very name “Candlemas” comes from the traditional blessing of candles as part of a special mass.)
While Candlemas celebrations were never much a part of my solidly United Methodist upbringing, I’m feeling drawn to celebrate Candlemas this year, to light a special candle and celebrate some light shining in the darkness. And I’m not the only one… just the other day, my six-year-old daughter offered a prayer that went something like this:
Gracious God, I miss my teacher and I can’t wait ‘til coronavirus is gone so we can go back to school and not wear our masks. I hope the light is stronger than the darkness and I hope you make coronavirus go away soon. Love God. Amen.
I’m with Ellie. I’m putting my hope in a light that is stronger than darkness. So I’ll light a special candle tomorrow and pray Ellie’s prayer… and church, I hope you’ll join me.
After all, friends:
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
Want to know more?
- Learn about our church and its ministries: https://wesleychurch.com/
- Make a gift to support our mission: https://wesleychurch.com/giving-2/
- View our recent messages: https://wesleychurch.com/sermon-message-on-video/
- View previous devotionals: https://wesleychurch.com/pastor-candys-devotionals-2/
