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| "The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple" -- by James Tissot |
The
Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
FIRST
READING: 1 John
2: 3 - 11
3
And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his
commandments.
4
He who says "I know him" but disobeys his commandments is a
liar, and the truth is not in him;
5
but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected.
By this we may be sure that we are in him:
6
he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which
he walked.
7
Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment
which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word
which you have heard.
8
Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which is true in him and in
you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is
already shining.
9
He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the
darkness still.
10
He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no
cause for stumbling.
11
But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the
darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness
has blinded his eyes.
PSALM:
Psalms 96:
1 - 6
1
O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2
Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to
day.
3
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all
the peoples!
4
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared
above all gods.
5
For all the gods of the peoples are idols; but the LORD made the
heavens.
6
Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his
sanctuary.
GOSPEL:
Luke 2:
22 - 35
22
And 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
23
(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens
the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
24
and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the
Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
25
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man
was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and
the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not
see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27
And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the
parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the
custom of the law,
28
he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29
"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according
to thy word;
30
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31
which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people
Israel."
33
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him;
34
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold,
this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for
a sign that is spoken against
35
(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts
out of many hearts may be revealed."
