Bishop Tobin on the Feast of the Presentation and Jesus as Light of the World

"February 2nd is, of course, Groundhog Day, when lots of Americans pause early in the morning to watch a furry little rodent from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania predict the weather for the next six weeks. There's a well-defined ritual surrounding the event but, more than anything, it's a harmless little celebration giving folks an excuse to party and break the mid-winter doldrums. . . .

"I have to mention too, that February 2nd has special significance for me personally for on that date in 1996 I was installed as the Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio. . . .

"Most importantly, however, February 2nd is a beautiful day in the life of the Church, i.e., the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, when in fulfillment of the law of Moses, 'Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.'"

In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on the Feast of the Presentation and on the importance of everyone who is a disciple of Christ sharing in His ministry of being a light in the world.

To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit: 

The Imitation of Christ: Beyond Groundhog Day (27 JAN 22)