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Malachi
3:1-4
Psalm
84
Hebrews
2:14-18
Luke
2:22-40
Malachi
3:1-4
Thus
says the Lord, See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way
before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his
temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight--
indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure
the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For
he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as
a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the
descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until
they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Then the
offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in
the days of old and as in former years.
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Quam
dilecta!
- 1
-
How
dear to me is your dwelling, O LORD of hosts! *
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
- 2
-
The
sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; *
by the side of your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
- 3
-
Happy
are they who dwell in your house! *
they will always be praising you.
- 4
-
Happy
are the people whose strength is in you! *
whose hearts are set on the pilgrims' way.
- 5
-
Those
who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of
springs, *
for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.
- 6
-
They
will climb from height to height, *
and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.
- 7
-
LORD
God of hosts, hear my prayer; *
hearken, O God of Jacob.
- 8
-
Behold
our defender, O God; *
and look upon the face of your Anointed.
- 9
-
For
one day in your courts is better than a thousand in my own
room, *
and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.
- 10
-
For
the LORD God is both sun and shield; *
he will give grace and glory;
- 11
-
No
good thing will the LORD withhold *
from those who walk with integrity.
- 12
-
O
LORD of hosts, *
happy are they who put their trust in you!
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Since
God's children share flesh and blood, Jesus himself likewise
shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the
one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those
who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For
it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the
descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his
brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a
merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a
sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he
himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those
who are being tested.
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When
the time came for their purification according to the law of
Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present
him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord,
"Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the
Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is
stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two
young pigeons."
Now
there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was
righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of
Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to
him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had
seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into
the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do
for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his
arms and praised God, saying,
- "Master,
now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
-
according
to your word;
- for
my eyes have seen your salvation,
-
which
you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
- a
light for revelation to the Gentiles
-
and
for glory to your people Israel."
And
the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said
about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary,
"This child is destined for the falling and the rising of
many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the
inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce
your own soul too."
There
was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of
Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven
years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of
eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with
fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and
began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were
looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When
they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they
returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew
and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was
upon him.
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