Episode Transcript
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Forty days ago we celebrated Christmas.
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Yes, it has been forty days already!
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And in good tradition
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today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord.
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This is when Joseph and Mary take the child to the temple.
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The Christmas event involved the birth of a child
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with all the human aspects of a delivery,
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including contact with blood.
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Hence today,
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forty days of the postpartum period
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is also the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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In some countries,
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today is also known as Candlemas.
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Some countries like France and Belgium
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celebrate today with crepes.
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I grew up in Mexico,
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for us the Presentation of the Lord
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is connected to the Epiphany of the Lord on the sixth of January
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when we celebrate the revelation of Jesus, the Son of God,
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to the Magi, or the three kings that visited baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
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In Mexico,
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families gather on the feast of the Epiphany to break bread,
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a special bread that we call Rosca de Reyes, kings cake.
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This bread has a hidden doll representing Jesus.
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As people cut through the bread, we check and we search,
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in hopes that the slice given will reveal Jesus.
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The person who finds it is honoured
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in becoming a “god parent” for baby Jesus,
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and they bring a figure to the Candlemas, today,
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and present it to all on this the second of February.
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Naturally,
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a gathering of families and friends follows
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with some traditional tamales.
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In some countries,
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today, people bring candles to the Church
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to be blessed and to be used for the rest of the year.
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These candles serve as a symbol that reminds us
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that like Simeon our eyes have seen the salvation,
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that Jesus is the light that enlightens our life.
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Let us make Jesus our light,
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let us come close to Him.
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And as we come to Mass this weekend
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and you see Jesus rising and hear the words,
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Behold the Lamb of God,
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I invite you to look at Him at the altar and bless God
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for your eyes would have seen the light of salvation.
