The Presentation of the Lord

Malachi 3:1-4 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Malachi

The Lord whom you seek will come to his temple.

The Lord God says this: Look, I am going to send my messenger to prepare a way before me. And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you are longing for, yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. Who will be able to resist the day of his coming? Who will remain standing when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire and the fuller’s alkali. He will take his seat as refiner and purifier; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and then they will make the offering to the Lord as it should be made. The offering of Judah and Jerusalem will then be welcomed by the Lord as in former days, as in the years of old.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Malachi 3:1-4 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Malachi

Thus says the Lord God:

‘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.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 23:7-10 (JB)

R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

O gates, lift up your heads;

grow higher, ancient doors.

Let him enter, the king of glory! R.

Who is the king of glory?

The Lord, the mighty, the valiant,

the Lord, the valiant in war. R.

O gates, lift high your heads;

grow higher, ancient doors.

Let him enter, the king of glory! R.

Who is he, the king of glory?

He, the Lord of armies,

he is the king of glory. R.

Psalm 24.7, 8, 9, 10 (R.10) (NRSV)

R. The Lord of hosts: he is king of glory!

Lift up your heads, O gates!

and be lifted up, O ancient doors!

that the King of glory may come in. R.

Who is the King of glory?

The Lord, strong and mighty,

the Lord, mighty in battle. R.

Lift up your heads, O gates!

and be lifted up, O ancient doors!

that the King of glory may come in. R.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts,

he is the King of glory. R.

Hebrews 2:14-18 (JB)

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews

He had to be made like us in all things.

Since all the children share the same blood and flesh, Jesus too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could take away all the power of the devil, who had power over death, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it was not the angels that he took to himself; he took to himself descent from Abraham. It was essential that he should in this way become completely like his brothers so that he could be a compassionate and trustworthy high priest of God’s religion, able to atone for human sins. That is, because he has himself been through temptation he is able to help others who are tempted.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hebrews 2:10-11,13-18 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews

It was fitting that God,

for whom and through whom all things exist,

in bringing many children to glory,

should make the source of their salvation

perfect through sufferings.

For the one who sanctifies

and those who are sanctified all have one Father.

For this reason

Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying,

“Here am I, and the children whom God has given me.”

Since the 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 Jesus 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 Jesus himself was tested by what he suffered,

he is able to help those who are being tested.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Luke 2:32 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

This is the light of revelation to the nations,

and the glory of your people, Israel.

Alleluia!

Luke 2:32 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

This is a light of revelation to the nations,

and the glory of your people Israel.

Alleluia!

Luke 2:22-32 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

My eyes have seen your saving power.

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and he blessed God; and he said :

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,

just as you promised;

because my eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared for all the nations to see,

a light to enlighten the pagans

and the glory of your people Israel.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 2:22-40 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

My eyes have seen your saving power.

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and he blessed God; and he said:

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,

just as you promised;

because my eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared for all the nations to see,

a light to enlighten the pagans

and the glory of your people Israel.’

As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’

There was a prophetess also, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 2:22-40 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

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.”

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 the parents of Jesus 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.

Short form

Luke 2:22-32

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.