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02/02/2025
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Feb. 2, 2025
π (F) The Presentation of the Lord; Our Lady of Candelaria
π World Day for Consecrated and Religious Life
π¬οΈ Pro-Life Sunday
π Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking
π Vestment: βͺ
π Lectionary: 524
π€ World Day for Consecrated Life
Pro-Life Sunday
Day of Prayer & Awareness Against Human Trafficking
A Life Vowed to God
By a series of happy coincidences, today, the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is replaced by the Feast of the Presentation of the Baby Jesus in the Temple, which is also the "World Day for Consecrated Life." We also keep the observance of "Pro-Life Sunday and the Day of Prayer & Awareness Against Human Trafficking."
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple invites us to focus on Jesus, the source of our life and the Light of all Nations. This feast reminds us of our own consecration to the Lord on the day of our baptism. Like Jesus, we too, are expected to live in an attitude of constant self-offering in the service of the Kingdom. Like Jesus, we too are expected to appreciate life, do our best to promote it in all its potential, and protect it from whatever endangers or destroys it.
In this Eucharist, as we observe Pro-Life Sunday, let us renew our commitment to love life and make amends for all the profanations and attacks it constantly suffers. Let us pray for an end to human trafficking all over the world.
1οΈβ£ Reading I: Mal 3:1-4
The prophet Malachi proclaims the day when the Lord will come to the temple. A messenger will be sent to prepare the people for their meeting with the Lord.
π A reading from the Book of the Prophet Malachi (3:1-4 NABRE)
[Thus says the Lord:] Now I am sending my messengerβhe will prepare the way before me; And the lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple; The messenger of the covenant whom you desireβsee, he is coming! says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand firm when he appears? For he will be like a refinerβs fire, like fullersβ lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the Levites, Refining them like gold or silver, that they may bring offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord, as in ancient days, as in years gone by.
- The word of the Lord.
πΌ Responsorial Psalm: PS 24:7, 8, 9, 10
R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
1. Lift up, O gates, your lintels;/reach up, you ancient portals,/that the king of glory may come in! (R)
2. Who is this king of glory?/The Lord, strong and mighty,/the Lord, mighty in battle. (R)
3. Lift up, O gates, your lintels;/reach up, you ancient portals,/that the king of glory may come in! (R)
4. Who is this king of glory?/The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory. (R)
2οΈβ£ Reading II: Heb 2:14-18
In Jesus Christ, the Lord comes to us in human form, like us in every way, that he may become our merciful intercessor before God.
π A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (2:14-18 NABRE)
[Now] since the children share in blood and flesh, he 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 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.
- The word of the Lord.
βοΈ Gospel: Lk 2:22-40
The basic purpose of God's Son coming into the world was to offer himself in atonement for the sins of all mankind. His sacrificial offering, which culminated on Calvary, was foreshadowed in his presentation in the Temple, forty days after his birth, as we read in today's Gospel account.
π A reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (2:22-40 NABRE)
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, βEvery male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,β and to offer the sacrifice of βa pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,β 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 Messiah 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:
βNow, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.β
The childβs father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, βBehold, 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.β 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. The Boy Jesus in the Temple.
(Short form - Lk 2:22-32, first three paragraphs only)
- The Gospel of the Lord.
π Today's Reflections
A FESTIVAL WITH MANY NAMES
Fr. Gil Alinsangan, SSP
Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews who obeyed the Law of Moses. This Law prescribed two ritual acts for a firstborn son. First, the mother of a newborn son was ritually unclean for seven days, and then she had to "spend thirty-three more days in a state of blood purity" (Lv 12:2-8). For this reason the present feast, celebrated forty days after Christmas, was previously called the Purification of Mary. Second, Joseph was to "redeem" the child by making an offering of five shekels to the priest so that the priest would then present the child to the Lord (Nm 18:6). This was a way of redeeming the child in commemoration of the Lord's protection during the last plague in Egypt. Since Jesus was presented in the Temple for his "redemption," today's feast is now referred to as the Presentation of the Lord.
Candlemas is also a traditional name given to the feast, because as early as the fifth century AD the custom of celebrating this feast with lit candles had developed. The lit candles symbolize Simeon's prophecy that Jesus would be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles." Lastly, this feast has been referred to as the Feast of the Holy Encounter because God, in the person of Jesus, encountered Simeon and Anna in the Temple. Though Mary was pure and free from sin from the moment of her conception, and though the Son of God did not need to be redeemed, Mary and Joseph fulfilled these ritual obligations in obedience to the Law.
Today's feast describes the meeting of the Old and New Covenants in the persons of the elderly Simeon and Anna (Old) and of the Holy Family (New). In the First Reading, the prophet Malachi foretells "the lord" suddenly coming to his temple to purify it of offenses on the part of both the people and the priests. Hence the need for a messenger like Elijah to prepare his way (Mal 3:23-24), The Responsorial Psalm speaks of the Lord, the king of glory, coming to encounter his people. Hence, Malachi asks, "Who can endure the day of his coming?" Indeed, in the Old Covenant, the appearance of the Lord God elicited fear in the hearts of people. But in the New Covenant, the "Lord" now appears in the form of a little Child whom Simeon can take into his arms and bless God for the favor to see the long-foretold salvation before the old man dies. For indeed, the Child is a light of salvation for all peoples, Jews and Gentiles alike. By the middle of the fifth century, the custom of celebrating the festival with lit candles-pointing to Jesus as the light of salvation had been introduced and the name Candlemas developed from this custom. In the Philippines and elsewhere today it is still celebrated as the feast of Candelaria.
The consecration or dedication of Jesus to God celebrated on February 2 is the inspiration behind the declaration of this day as World Day of Consecrated Life, an opportunity to celebrate the gift of consecrated life and pray for women and men discerning a consecrated vocation in the Church. Men and women who take the evangelical vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience are called to spread the light and love of Jesus Christ through their unique witness of selfless service, such as caring for the poor, the contemplative work of prayer, or through their professional careers.
In his message for the 28th World Day for Consecrated Life last year, Pope Francis drew attention to Simeon and Anna: "It is good for us to look at these two elders who were waiting patiently, vigilant in spirit and persevering in prayer. Their hearts have stayed awake, like an eternal flame. They are advanced in age, but young at heart. They do not let the days wear them down, for their eyes remain fixed on God in expectation (cf. Ps 145:15): fixed on God in expectation, always in expectation. Along life's journey, they have experienced hardships and disappointments, but they have not given in to defeat: they have not retired' hope. As they contemplate the child, they recognize that the time has come, the prophecy has been fulfilled, the One they sought and yearned for, the Messiah of the nations, has arrived. By staying awake in expectation of the Lord, they are able to welcome him in the newness of his coming."
Source: Euchalette by Word and Life Publications | Sambuhay Missalette by St Pauls Media Pastoral Ministry
Provided by: Dan Richard N. Sumcio | Drich N. Sumcio
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