FIRST
READING: Malachi 3:1-4
1
Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face.
And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the
testament, whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold he
cometh, saith the Lord of hosts.
2
And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who
shall stand to see him? for he is like a refining fire, and like the
fuller's herb:
3
And he shall sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall
purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as
silver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice.
4
And the sacrifice of Juda and of Jerusalem shall please the Lord, as
in the days of old, and in the ancient years.
PSALM:
Psalms 24:7-10
7
Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal
gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in.
8
Who is this King of Glory? the Lord who is strong and mighty: the
Lord mighty in battle.
9
Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal
gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in.
10
Who is this King of Glory? the Lord of hosts, he is the King of
Glory.
SECOND
READING: Hebrews
2:14-18
14
Therefore because the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he
also himself in like manner hath been partaker of the same: that,
through death, he might destroy him who had the empire of death, that
is to say, the devil:
15
And might deliver them, who through the fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to servitude.
16
For no where doth he take hold of the angels: but of the seed of
Abraham he taketh hold.
17
Wherefore it behoved him in all things to be made like unto his
brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful priest before
God, that he might be a propitiation for the sins of the people.
18
For in that, wherein he himself hath suffered and been tempted, he is
able to succour them also that are tempted.
GOSPEL:
Luke 2:22-40
22
And after the days of her purification, according to the law of
Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present
him to the Lord:
23
As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb
shall be called holy to the Lord:
24
And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of
the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons:
25
And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man
was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the
Holy Ghost was in him.
26
And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not
see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
27
And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents
brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of
the law,
28
He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29
Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in
peace;
30
Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,
31
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:
32
A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy
people Israel.
33
And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were
spoken concerning him.
34
And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this
child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in
Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted;
35
And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts,
thoughts may be revealed.
36
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the
tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her
husband seven years from her virginity.
37
And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not
from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.
38
Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and
spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.
39
And after they had performed all things according to the law of the
Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.
40
And the child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace
of God was in him.
OR
GOSPEL:
Luke 2:22-32
22
And after the days of her purification, according to the law of
Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present
him to the Lord:
23
As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb
shall be called holy to the Lord:
24
And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of
the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons:
25
And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man
was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the
Holy Ghost was in him.
26
And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not
see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
27
And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents
brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of
the law,
28
He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29
Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in
peace;
30
Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,
31
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:
32
A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy
people Israel.
