Sunday, 02 February 2025
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Readings and Antiphons on p. 1560 of the DailyMissal.
First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24:7.8.9.10 (R. cf. 10bc)
O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Who is this king of glory?
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant;
the Lord, the valiant in war.
O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Who is this king of glory?
He, the Lord of hosts,
he is the king of glory.
R/. The Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory!
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
And 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 male that opens the womb
shall be called holy to the Lord”)
and to offer a sacrifice
according to what is said 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,
and this man was righteous and devout,
looking for the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
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.
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,
he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now let your servant depart 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 thy people Israel.”
And his father and his mother
marvelled at what was said about him;
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
(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also),
that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”
And there was a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher;
she was of a great age,
having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
and as a widow, till she was eighty-four.
She did not depart from the temple,
worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day.
And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God,
and spoke of him to all who were looking
for the redemption of Jerusalem.
And when they had performed everything
according to the law of the Lord,
they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favour of God was upon him.
