Fr. Edwards Jottings for January 2026

By the time you read this Christmas Day will be behind you and possibly Epiphany too.  The days are lengthening, and daylight is returning. One of the joys of this coming season is the emergence of snowdrops which are also known as Candlemas bells. They appear around the feast of Candlemas which the church celebrates on Sunday 1 February this year.   Their fascinating biology, includes ‘anti-freeze’ proteins that help inhibit ice crystals forming and protecting cells from damage.  When cold causes them to flop they seemingly ‘resurrect’ themselves when the temperature rises.
Snowdrops traditionally mark the hope that Spring will come after the hardness of winter.  An old folk rhyme goes along the lines:

‘If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, Winter will have another fight.
If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, Winter won’t come again.’

As Christians we always think of the deeper hope.  Candlemas again praises the light that has come into the world, Jesus.  Candles were often blessed for the year ahead. Candlemas also marks the presentation of Jesus in the temple 40 days after his birth.  Now at Epiphany, the Magi - perhaps Zoroastrian astrologers from Persia - followed the star to find the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.  They reveal that Jesus is the long-awaited King.  In the reading in Luke’s Gospel for Candlemas, Simeon reveals what sort of King Jesus is.  Simeon sees salvation and a light for revelation to all.  Anna in the temple then proclaims this hope.
Candlemas marks the actual end of the Christmas season, a turning point in the year when we move from Jesus’s birth and turn towards Easter.  The cross and His resurrection which bring the salvation that removes that separation from God caused when we fail to treat our neighbours as ourselves. Our world is badly in need of hope and reducing separation, the failure to appreciate each other as God does, that breeds fear and distrust.  I don’t know what New Year resolutions you made, but perhaps as a first step we can all take a little more time to listen to others and to give them the hospitality that Jesus gives to us when we pray.                                                                                                                                                          Fr. Edward Westrip