|
THE
PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE
MALACHI
3:1-4
PSALM
84 OR PSALM 24:7-10
HEBREWS
2:14-18
LUKE
2:22-40
COLLECT
Blessed are you, O Lord our God,
for you have sent us your salvation.
Inspire us by your Holy Spirit
to recognize him who is the glory of Israel
and the light for all nations,
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
[Return
to top]
A
READING FROM THE BOOK OF MALACHI
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.
MALACHI 3:1-4
[Return
to top]
PSALM
REFRAIN Happy are the people whose strength is in you!
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. R
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.
Happy
are they who dwell in your house! they will always be praising
you.
Happy
are the people whose strength is in you! whose hearts are set on
the pilgrims' way. R
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.
They
will climb from height to height, and the God of gods will reveal
himself in Zion.
Lord
God of hosts, hear my prayer; hearken, O God of Jacob. R
Behold
our defender, O God; and look upon the face of your Anointed.
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. R
For
the Lord God is both sun and shield; he will give grace and glory;
No
good thing will the Lord withhold from those who walk with
integrity.
O
Lord of hosts, happy are they who put their trust in you! R
PSALM 84
[Return
to top]
PSALM
REFRAIN Let the King of glory enter.
Lift
up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; and
the King of glory shall come in.
"Who
is this King of glory?" "The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle." R
Lift
up your heads, O gates lift them high, O everlasting doors; and
the King of glory shall come in.
"Who
is he, this King of glory?" "The Lord of hosts, he is
the King of glory." R
PSALM 24:7-10
[Return
to top]
A
READING FROM THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS
Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he 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. HEBREWS 2:14-18
[Return
to top]
THE
HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO LUKE
When the time came for their purification according to the law of
Moses, they 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 worshipped 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 favour of God was upon him.
LUKE 2:22-40
[Return
to top]
PRAYER
OVER THE GIFTS
Almighty God,
accept the joyful offering of your Church,
and grant that your Son may shine in us
as the light that lightens every nation.
We ask this in the name of the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
[Return
to top]
PRAYER
AFTER COMMUNION
God for whom we wait,
you fulfilled the hope of Simeon,
who did not die till he had welcomed the Messiah.
Complete in us your perfect will,
that we in Christ may share in your eternal kingdom;
for he is Lord for ever and ever.
[Return
to top]
|
