Posted on 02/02/2006 8:16:00 AM PST by Salvation
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Reading I
Mal 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
Ps 24:7, 8, 9, 10
R. (8) 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!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
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!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Reading II
Heb 2:14-18
Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every way,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.
Gospel
Lk 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.
or
Lk 2:22-32
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.”
| Lk 2:22-40 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
| 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: | et postquam impleti sunt dies purgationis eius secundum legem Mosi tulerunt illum in Hierusalem ut sisterent eum Domino |
| 23 | As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: | sicut scriptum est in lege Domini quia omne masculinum adaperiens vulvam sanctum Domino vocabitur |
| 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: | et ut darent hostiam secundum quod dictum est in lege Domini par turturum aut duos pullos columbarum |
| 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. | et ecce homo erat in Hierusalem cui nomen Symeon et homo iste iustus et timoratus expectans consolationem Israhel et Spiritus Sanctus erat in eo |
| 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. | et responsum acceperat ab Spiritu Sancto non visurum se mortem nisi prius videret Christum Domini |
| 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, | et venit in Spiritu in templum et cum inducerent puerum Iesum parentes eius ut facerent secundum consuetudinem legis pro eo |
| 28 | He also took him into his arms and blessed God and said | et ipse accepit eum in ulnas suas et benedixit Deum et dixit |
| 29 | Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace: | nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine secundum verbum tuum in pace |
| 30 | Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, | quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum |
| 31 | Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: | quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum |
| 32 | A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel. | lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israhel |
| 33 | And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him. | et erat pater eius et mater mirantes super his quae dicebantur de illo |
| 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. | et benedixit illis Symeon et dixit ad Mariam matrem eius ecce positus est hic in ruinam et resurrectionem multorum in Israhel et in signum cui contradicetur |
| 35 | And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed. | et tuam ipsius animam pertransiet gladius ut revelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes |
| 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. | et erat Anna prophetissa filia Phanuhel de tribu Aser haec processerat in diebus multis et vixerat cum viro suo annis septem a virginitate sua |
| 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. | et haec vidua usque ad annos octoginta quattuor quae non discedebat de templo ieiuniis et obsecrationibus serviens nocte ac die |
| 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. | et haec ipsa hora superveniens confitebatur Domino et loquebatur de illo omnibus qui expectabant redemptionem Hierusalem |
| 39 | And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth. | et ut perfecerunt omnia secundum legem Domini reversi sunt in Galilaeam in civitatem suam Nazareth |
| 40 | And the child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom: and the grace of God was in him. | puer autem crescebat et confortabatur plenus sapientia et gratia Dei erat in illo |
Beautiful!
 |
Thursday, February 02, 2006 Meditation Luke 2:22-40 “Lord, grant me patience—and hurry up!” How many times have you said a prayer like this? In a world that pretends to offer immediate solutions to complex problems, instant success at work, and no delay in giving us gratification, the virtue of patience seems to have lost its sheen a bit. Even in prayer, it is tempting to look for immediate answers to our requests, or to have an immediate experience of the Lord. Then, when nothing seems to happen, it’s equally as tempting to become frustrated and wonder why God isn’t answering us. “Does he not care?” we may wonder. “Do I even know how to pray? Or maybe I’m asking for the wrong thing, and God’s about to punish me for my lack of faith.” More likely than not, however, none of these is the real answer. It’s more likely that we have forgotten that our plans are not always his plans and our ways are not always his ways. That’s why this feast day is so important for us. Simeon and Anna have much to teach us about patient prayer. Both of them had been looking forward to the time when God’s rule would be restored to Jerusalem, but they never showed any signs of frustration or impatience. Instead, Luke tells us that Simeon was a righteous and devout man who never wavered in his hope for the coming of the Messiah, while Anna had devoted her life to prayer and fasting in the Temple in anticipation of the Christ. Despite their anxious waiting, they continued to persist in righteousness and holiness, never allowing their own agendas and personal desires to distract them from their vigil. How different the church would be if we all followed the example of these two holy people! Imagine the sense of peace and trust in the Lord that would characterize our gatherings. Or think of how much more open we would be to embracing God’s plan for our lives instead of trying to push our own agendas. May we all “present” ourselves to the Lord and, like Simeon and Anna, wait patiently for him to reveal himself to us! “Lord Jesus, even though it is hard to be patient in prayer, I believe that you always hear me and will never forsake me. In times of doubt, help me to remember Simeon and Anna and their trust in your promises.” Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24:7-10; Hebrews 2:14-18 |
Bump for the faithful example of Simeon and Anna.
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O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
| This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited. |
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 15 (16) |
|---|
| The Lord, my inheritance |
| My body will rest in calm and hope. Alleluia. |
| Preserve me, Lord, I put my hope in you. I have said to the Lord “You are my Lord, in you alone is all my good”. As for the holy and noble men of the land, in them is all my delight. But for those who run to alien gods, their sorrows are many. I will not share in their libations of blood. I will not speak their names. You, Lord, are my inheritance and my cup. You control my destiny, the lot marked out for me is of the best, my inheritance is all I could ask for. I will bless the Lord who gave me understanding; even in the night my heart will teach me wisdom. I will hold the Lord for ever in my sight: with him at my side I can never be shaken. Thus it is that my heart rejoices, heart and soul together; while my body rests in calm hope. You will not leave my soul in the underworld. You will not let your chosen one see decay. You will show me the paths of life, the fullness of joy before your face, and delights at your right hand until the end of time. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| My body will rest in calm and hope. Alleluia. |
| Reading | 1 Thessalonians 5:23 |
|---|---|
| May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you in every way and preserve your life and your soul and your body without blemish, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. | |
| Short Responsory | ? |
|---|---|
| Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. |
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| Canticle | Nunc Dimittis |
|---|---|
| Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia. | |
| Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia. | |
| Prayer | |
|---|---|
| Let us pray. Lord our God, we are tired by the work of the day. Refresh us with peaceful sleep and, forever renewed by the help you give, let us always be dedicated to you in body and mind. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. |
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| May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. |
| A M E N |
Here's wishing a peaceful night's rest to all reading this thread.
Mass bump,a little late.
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