Thursday 2 February 2023

1“Behold, I send my messenger,and he will prepare the way before me!The Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple.Behold, the messenger of the covenant,whom you desire, is coming!”says the Lord of Armies.2“But who can endure the day of his coming?And who will stand when he appears?For he is like a refiner’s fire,and like launderers’ soap;3and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,and he will purify the sons of Levi,and refine them as gold and silver;and they shall offer to the Lord offerings in righteousness.4Then the offering of Judahand Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord as in the days of oldand as in ancient years.

7Lift up your heads, you gates!Be lifted up, you everlasting doors,and the King of glory will come in.

8Who is the King of glory?The Lord strong and mighty,the Lord mighty in battle.

9Lift up your heads, you gates;yes, lift them up, you everlasting doors,and the King of glory will come in.

10Who is this King of glory?The Lord of Armies is the King of glory!

14Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood,he also himself in the same way partook of the same,that through death he might bring to nothing himwho had the power of death,that is, the devil,15and might deliver all of themwho through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.16For most certainly,he doesn’t give help to angels,but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham.17Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers,that he might become a mercifuland faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,to make atonement for the sins of the people.18For in that he himself has suffered being tempted,he is able to help those who are tempted.

22When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled,they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord23(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 thatwhich is said in the law of the Lord,“A pair of turtledoves,or two young pigeons.”

25Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.This man was righteous and devout,looking for the consolation of Israel,and the Holy Spirit was on him.26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spiritthat he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.27He came in the Spirit into the temple.When the parents brought in the child,Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,28then he received him into his armsand blessed God, and said,

29“Now you are releasing your servant, Master,according to your word, in peace;30for my eyes have seen your salvation,31which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;32a light for revelation to the nations,and the glory of your people Israel.”

33Joseph and his mother were marveling at the thingswhich were spoken concerning him.34Simeon blessed them,and said to Mary, his mother,“Behold, this child is appointed for the fallingand the rising of many in Israel,and for a sign which is spoken against.35Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul,that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

36There was one Anna,a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel,of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age,having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,37and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years),who didn’t depart from the temple,worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day.38Coming up at that very hour,she gave thanks to the Lord,and spoke of him to all thosewho were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

39When they had accomplished all thingsthat were according to the law of the Lord,they returned into Galilee,to their own city, Nazareth.40The child was growing,and was becoming strong in spirit,being filled with wisdom,and the grace of God was upon him.