Greeting
(see second reading)
Jesus
shared the same flesh and blood as we
so that he could become completely
like his brothers and sisters
and, compassionate and trustworthy,
atone for our human sins.
May this Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction
by the Celebrant
We
have come together to celebrate today the Feast of the Presentation
of the Lord. It is a feast of joy because of the hope this child brings
to people old and young: here is the future, here is salvation: God
has kept his promise of life and pardon. But there is also sadness
in it: the child will bring pain to his mother and he will be rejected
even by some of his own people, though he comes as a light for all.
Let the lighted candles in our hands be the sign that we do not reject
him but follow him as the light of our life.
Blessing
of the candles
Let
us pray that the Lord may light in our hearts
the fire to follow Jesus our light.
(PAUSE)
God our Father, you are the true light.
When you speak, darkness gives way to daylight,
the world reflects your brightness,
we can live in the light of your love.
Make yourself known to us
as we carry these lighted candles into your church
and make our faces resplendent with your glory.
Make us children of light,
keep us from the darkness of sin
and lead us to your everlasting light
through him who is our way, our truth and life
and the light of the world,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
(Sprinkling with holy water in silence.)
Procession
Let
us go in peace to meet the Lord.
II.
MASS
In
the Mass with blessing of candles, there is no penitential act after
the entrance song but the Mass continues with the Gloria and the Opening
Prayer. In other Masses of the day without blessing of candles, the
following penitential act could be used:
Penitential
Act
We
have at times followed "lights"
other than Christ, the true Light.
We ask now the Lord to forgive us.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, let your light guide us
on the road to the Father:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus
Christ, shine on us
the light of truth and wisdom of the Spirit:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord
Jesus, let the light of your mercy
gather all nations in your love:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have
mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us all our sins.
May we walk in the light of Christ
until you lead us into everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening
Prayer
Let
us pray that with Jesus our light
we may set out resolutely
on the road of renewal
(PAUSE)
Our God and Father,
it is hard for us to say farewell
to all that looks familiar and safe:
our settled ways, our self-complacency,
our certainties and practices.
We offer ourselves with Jesus our Lord
and ask for the strength to follow his light.
Help
us accept with him
the insecurity of true renewal
and to bring to all around us
the light and the warmth of your Son.
Let
this be the sacrifice we offer you today
together with Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy
of the Word
First
Reading Introduction: The
Savior Will Purify You
The Savior will come to his temple, that
is, live among his people to purify our hearts. Then our offerings will
be pleasing to God.
First
Reading: Mal 3:1-4
The Lord God says this: Now I am sending
my messenger ahead of me to clear the way; then suddenly the Lord
for whom you long will enter the sanctuary. The envoy of the covenant
which you so greatly desire already comes, says Yahweh of hosts. Who
can bear the day of his coming and remain standing when he appears?
For he will be like fire in the foundry and like the lye used for
bleaching.
He will be as a refiner or a fuller. He
will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver.
So Yahweh will have priests who will present the offering as it should
be. Then Yahweh will accept with pleasure the offering of Judah and
Jerusalem, as in former days.
Responsorial
Psalm: Psalm 24:7-10
R.\
Who is the 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 the king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who
is the King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
R.\ Who is the 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 the 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 the king of glory? It is the Lord!
Second
Reading Introduction: Jesus Became Like Us to
Help Us
Jesus became human like us
to understand us, to be one with us in our trials, to make us free for
God and one another.
Second
Reading: Heb 2:14-18
Because all those children share one same
nature of flesh and blood, Jesus likewise had to share this nature.
This is why his death destroyed the one holding the power of death,
that is the devil, and freed those who remained in bondage all their
lifetime because of the fear of death.
Jesus came to take by the hand not the angels
but the human race. So he had to be like his brothers and sisters
in every respect, in order to be the High Priest faithful to God and
merciful to them, a priest able to ask pardon and atone for their
sins. Having been tested through suffering, he is able to help those
who are tested.
Gospel
Introduction: The Light Shines for Those Who Accept
It
Those who wait with faith
for God's coming will recognize him even in his humble appearances.
But to follow Christ is often demanding.
Gospel
Reading: Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22-34
When the day came for the purification according
to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought the baby up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord:
Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to God. And they offered
a sacrifice as ordered in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves
or two young pigeons.
There lived in Jerusalem at this time a
very upright and devout man named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him.
He looked forward to the time when the Lord would comfort Israel,
and he had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before
seeing the Messiah of the Lord. So he was led into the Temple by the
Holy Spirit at the time the parents brought the child Jesus, to do
for him according to the custom of the Law.
Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed
God, saying,
“Now,
O Lord, you can dismiss
your servant in peace,
for you have fulfilled your word
and my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you display for all the people to
see.
Here is the light you will reveal to the
nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”
His father and mother wondered at what was
said about the child. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother,
“See him; he will be for the rise or fall of the multitudes of Israel.
He shall stand as a sign of contradiction, while a sword will pierce
your own soul. Then the secret thoughts of many may be brought to
light.”
There was also a prophetess named Anna,
daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. After leaving her father’s
home, she had been seven years with her husband, and since then she
had been continually about the Temple, serving God as a widow night
and day in fasting and prayer. She was now eighty-four. Coming up
at that time, she gave praise to God and spoke of the child to all
who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.
When the parents had fulfilled all that
was required by the law of the Lord, they returned to their town,
Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew in stature and strength
and was filled with wisdom: the grace of God was upon him.
Commentary
TRADITIONALLY
this is the last day of the Epiphany season when Jesus, the first
born of Joseph and Mary is ritually given in obedience to the service
of Yahweh, the God of the people Israel in thanksgiving for their
release from bondage in Egypt. It is a feast of Light, when the
Light of God begins to move into the world of ordinary time and
history, growing surely and truthfully in the power of the Spirit
of God in the person of Jesus. The family is met by Simeon the old
faithful prophet silent in waiting on the time of God and he cries
out in joy and hope that is present. This is "the light [God
is] revealing to the nations" and God has let him see it in
his lifetime, graciously. There will be resistance, and those closest
to the Light will know their own hearts torn open, exposed and sorrowful
because of closeness to the burning fire of God. The ritual finished,
the child grows in wisdom; God's grace upon him. This is our way
of salvation: we have seen the Light in the Word made flesh. Now
we are to grow in wisdom through obedience and bring that Light
into the world in our flesh and lives.
General
Intercessions (Thanks to Fr René Mouret; adapted)
Let
us pray together to Jesus, our compassionate and trustworthy high
priest, who is able to help all our brothers and sisters, and let
us say: R/ Lord, welcome us to your light and love.
-
That our Lord may accept children, even if no one presents them to
him, let us pray: R/ Lord, welcome us to your light and love.
-
That our Lord may accept parents, even if they have not succeeded
in bringing their children to him, let us pray: R/ Lord, welcome
us to your light and love.
-
That our Lord may accept old people, even if they have not yet recognized
the Savior and have not found peace, let us pray: R/ Lord, welcome
us to your light and love.
-
That our Lord may accept all peoples, even if they are not aware of
the riches Christ offers them and of the happiness he has prepared
for them, let us pray: R/ Lord, welcome us to your light and love.
-
That the Lord may accept all Christians, even if they have failed
to let his light shine on all nations, let us pray: R/ Lord, welcome
us to your light and love.
Lord,
accept our prayer in this holy place where you have come to encounter
us. Show your love to all those we have presented to you, our Lord
for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer
over the Gifts
Lord
God, almighty and loving Father,
you let your light shine in our darkness;
you give us your Son Jesus Christ,
and let us share in his offering.
Accept us with our half-truths
and our groping efforts to seek your will.
Purify our faith in the trials of life.
May our offering be pleasing to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction
to the Eucharistic Prayer
Jesus
was offered in the Temple. With him and with Mary and Joseph we offer
ourselves to be with Jesus a light to our brothers and sisters.
Introduction
to the Lord's Prayer
Let
us offer the prayer of Jesus
to our Father in heaven: R/ Our Father...
Deliver
Us
Deliver
us, Lord, from the darkness of sin
and let the light of your love and peace
shine on us, your people.
Purify your Church, that it may bear witness
to the light of the gospel
in a world torn by wars and strife.
Let your kindly light lead us forward
in hope and joy,
as we work for the full coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation
to Communion
This
is our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is the light that came into this world
to enlighten all people.
Happy are we to share in his offering
and to receive him as the bread of life. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer
after Communion
Our
God and Father,
you spoke your mighty word to the world
and there was light.
You have spoken your Word Jesus Christ among us
and there is light in our minds and hearts.
Do not allow us to keep this light of Jesus
hidden under the shade of our mediocrity,
but let it shine in our words and deeds,
that it may brighten the footsteps
of all people in search of the truth.
We ask you this on account of him
who is the light and the guiding star of our lives,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
We
have seen today the true light
that shines on our lives.
This is the light we intend to follow
and let be the guide of all we do.
For in this light we see where we are going
and where it will lead us.
Let it shine on us and in us!
May all see it and follow it.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go
in peace and take the light of Christ with you
to let it shine on all. R/ Thanks be to God.