Sunday, February 2, 2020 (Feast of  Presentation of the Lord) Reading and Reflection

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Theme of the Feast: “The Time of Purification Has Come.” God comes to us, not to reprimand us, or to humiliate us nor even to punish us. He becomes one of us and, through his holiness, makes us pure too. In the first reading Malachi promises his coming. The Gospel shows the fulfillment of this promise. The Law of Israel states that only the mother must undergo the rite of purification after giving birth, but the gospel of today speaks of “their purification” (v. 22). The Holy Family goes to the temple and Jesus makes himself impure to accompany us where God will make us pure. The second reading develops this theme. The Son of God has chosen to be one of us and to share our human destiny. This is why he can help us in our trials.

FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Malachi 3: 1-4
“The Lord whom you seek will come to his temple.”

Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I send 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, behold, 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 sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the Lord. 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.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm24:7.8.9.10 (R. 10bc)
R/. The Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory!

O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory! R/.

Who is this 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 this king of glory?
He, the Lord of hosts,he is the king of glory. R.

SECOND READING               
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews 2: 14-18
“He had to be made like his brethren in every respect.”

Since the children share in flesh and blood, Jesus himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
The word of the Lord

ALLELUIA  Luke 2:32
Alleluia. A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel. Alleluia.

GOSPEL     
“My eyes have seen your salvation.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 2:22-40

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 your 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 goes 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.
The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection
As we celebrate the presentation of the Lord, we are called to present ourselves anew to God. This means to continually worship God in spirit and in truth like Simeon and Anna. The scripture describes simeon as a very upright and devout man and Anna as a widow who continues to serve God day and night in fasting and prayer. This no doubt earns them the privilege of recognizing the Messiah in the midst of the many children that are brought to the temple that day. One thing to learn at the presentation of the Lord is that he is not just a light to the nations and the glory of Israel but also a sign that is spoken against, a sign of contradiction. Despite all the odds, let us focus on God and daily renew our commitment to him.

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