THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD (FEAST)
Psalter PROPER | WHITE
This celebrates the event when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem, fulfilling the
Mosaic Law’s requirement to consecrate their firstborn son to God. The feast is also known as Candlemas because of the custom of blessing candles, symbolizing Christ as the light of the world. The presentation also commemorates Mary’s ritual purification, which was required 40 days after the birth of a child, according to the Mosaic Law. Candlemas marks the end of the liturgical season of Christmas.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 47: 10-11
Your merciful love, O God, we have received in the midst of your temple. Your praise, O God, like your name, reaches the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with saving justice.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, we humbly implore your majesty that, just as your Only Begotten Son was presented on this day in the Temple in the substance of our flesh, so, by your grace, we may be presented to you with minds made pure. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Thus says the Lord God: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; And suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek, And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord. Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord, as in the days of old, as in years gone by.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10
R/ Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
- Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in!
- Who is this king of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.
- Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in!
- Who is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory.
Second Reading: Hebrews 2: 14-18
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: And might deliver them, who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to servitude. For no where doth he take hold of the angels: but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold. 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. For in that, wherein he himself hath suffered and been tempted, he is able to succour them also that are tempted.
Gospel Acclamation: Luke 2:32
Alleluia, alleluia. A light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted —and you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Prayer over the Offerings
May the offering made with exultation by your Church be pleasing to you, O Lord, we pray, for you willed that your Only Begotten Son be offered to you for the life of the world as the Lamb without blemish. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Communion Antiphon: Lk 2: 30-31
My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples.
Prayer after Communion
By these holy gifts which we have received, O Lord, bring your grace to perfection within us, and, as you fulfilled Simeon’s expectation that he would not see death until he had been privileged to welcome the Christ, so may we, going forth to meet the Lord, obtain the gift of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Mary and Joseph took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” The prophet Malachi spoke of the coming of the Lord. This prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus, and his presentation in the Temple was his first public appearance. Through Mary and Joseph, God presented his son Jesus to the Israelites and he also presents him to us. Over the ages, he has offered Jesus to us through his written Word and the teaching and witness of the Church. How do we receive him? Are we prepared to welcome him in our lives? Simeon and Anna are examples of people who were ready to receive Jesus. They had been living holy lives and expecting the Messiah, and when they saw him, they welcomed him with joy. Let us similarly embrace Jesus through a sincere profession of faith, obedience to his Word, and a life of witness to his name. Let us allow him to refine us like gold and purify us, in the words of Malachi, so that our lives may become a sacrifice pleasing and acceptable to him. It is only through him that we, like Simeon and Anna, can attain the fulfilment that we all seek in life.