Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, February-02-2014
The Presentation
(This is a Holy Day, and so takes precedence over the Regular Sunday)

The Collect

The Presentation
Almighty and everliving God, we humbly beseech thee that, as thy only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by the same Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of the Epiphany

Old Testament Reading

Malachi 3:1-4
¹"Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. ²" 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 launderers' soap. ³He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. ⁴" Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 84

Quam dialect!
1How dear to me is your dwelling, O LORD of hosts! *
     My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of
     the LORD;
     my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
2The sparrow has found her a house
     and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; *
     by the side of your altars, O LORD of hosts,
     my King and my God.
3Happy are they who dwell in your house! *
     they will always be praising you.
4Happy are the people whose strength is in you! *
     whose hearts are set on the pilgrims' way.
5Those who go through the desolate valley will find
     it a place of springs, *
     for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.
6They will climb from height to height, *
     and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.
7LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; *
     hearken, O God of Jacob.
8Behold our defender, O God; *
     and look upon the face of your Anointed.
9For one day in your courts is better than
     a thousand in my own room, *
     and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God
     than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.
10For the LORD God is both sun and shield; *
     he will give grace and glory;
11No good thing will the LORD withhold *
     from those who walk with integrity.
12O LORD of hosts, *
     happy are they who put their trust in you!

- OR -
Psalm 84:1-6

1How dear to me is your dwelling, O LORD of hosts! *
     My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of
     the LORD;
     my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
2The sparrow has found her a house
     and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; *
     by the side of your altars, O LORD of hosts,
     my King and my God.
3Happy are they who dwell in your house! *
     they will always be praising you.
4Happy are the people whose strength is in you! *
     whose hearts are set on the pilgrims' way.
5Those who go through the desolate valley will find
     it a place of springs, *
     for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.
6They will climb from height to height, *
     and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.

New Testament Reading

Hebrews 2:14-18
¹⁴Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. ¹⁶For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. ¹⁷Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Luke 2:22-40
²²Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." ²⁵And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. ²⁷So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ²⁹" Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; ³⁰For my eyes have seen Your salvation ³¹Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, ³²A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." ³³And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against ³⁵(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." ³⁶Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; ³⁷and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. ³⁸And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. ³⁹So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. ⁴⁰And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. -- NKJV