Sunday Homily, February 2, 2020, Presentation
"Welcome in, Everybody," sez Khalessi
Readings:
Malachi, 1-4, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way.
Psalm 24. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord.
Hebrews 2, 14-18, He was able to help.
Luke 2, 22-40, The Presentation
Candlemas with lots of candles which Mike will use to help us sing, "This little light of mine."
Mike's Homily
Candles symbolically guide us and bless us as we journey through the Liturgical seasons.
Since, as Church, we are ‘The Light of the World,” it is natural for us to do good works; but I have an even better suggestion. Instead of doing a good work, why don’t we choose to become the good work. This would mean that instead of receiving a reward for something we have done, we become something bigger, and we shine brighter, and we make our light a little stronger, so that others can come to understand and give glory to God.
Hi, Betsy, How are you today? Is your grandmother being nice to you today?
Let’s say that a grandson of yours has been visiting with you during a spring break, and he is leaving in the morning to return to college. Early in the morning when no one is up in the house except you, you pull on your jacket and pay a visit to a gas station to fill his tank. It is becoming bigger than just a good work. It has been done in secret. Not even your wife knows, nor will she. When your grandson leaves you both with hugs and a kisses, and you have received his last wave, you have done so with a heart felt smile, while giving praise and glory to your heavenly Father.
And hi to you, Harper. Want to hold a candle?
Say that your wife and children, who have baked and decorated cookies all week, now have them boxed and ready to deliver early the next morning; one box for every house on your block. In the morning the alarm went off and she and the children got dressed and began to pull the wagon quietly down the street delivering one box to each door step. When they were all delivered but one, the children looked up to their mother as if to ask ‘we missed someone?’
As Mike says, "Grab a candle from the altar and let's sing."
It was then that their mother smiled back to them saying, “Quietly, get back in bed. When the neighbors look out their windows and down the street none of them will be able to know who it was who secretly gave them love on Christmas morning.” And two little lights blinked on.
Is that your candle there, Aggie?
Today happens to be the feast of Candlemas, and there’s no reason we can’t end this homily with a song!
So, I would like to invite you to stand. Those of you who are close to the altar can carefully come forward to hold one of the many lit candles from the altar as we join together in song, “This little light of mine.”
Sings Cody, "This little cookie of mine…"
