Daily Mass Readings – Tuesday, 2 February 2027

1 Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face. And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the testament, whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold he cometh, saith the Lord of hosts.

2 And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who shall stand to see him? for he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller’s herb:

3 And he shall sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice.

4 And the sacrifice of Juda and of Jerusalem shall please the Lord, as in the days of old, and in the ancient years.

R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

7 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in.

R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

8 Who is this King of Glory? the Lord who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.

R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

9 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in.

R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

10 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!

14 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:

15 And might deliver them, who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to servitude.

16 For no where doth he take hold of the angels: but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold.

17 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.

18 For in that, wherein he himself hath suffered and been tempted, he is able to succour them also that are tempted.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

32 A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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:

23 As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:

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:

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.

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.

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,

28 He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:

29 Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace;

30 Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

32 A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him.

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;

35 And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.

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.

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.

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.

39 And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.

40 And the child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in him.

Or

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:

23 As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:

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:

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.

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.

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,

28 He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:

29 Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace;

30 Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

32 A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

The Lord comes into his temple, yet he arrives as a child carried in the arms of Mary. The King of Glory enters quietly, fulfilling the promise of the One who will purify his people like a refiner’s fire. His holiness does not remain distant from our human condition: Christ shares our flesh, enters our suffering, and becomes the merciful and faithful priest who can help those who are tempted and held captive by fear.

Simeon recognizes this salvation because he has waited in faith and welcomed the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Anna, steadfast in prayer and fasting, speaks of Jesus to those longing for redemption. Their example shows that patient attention to God prepares the heart to recognize his presence. Jesus is the light revealed to all peoples, yet his light also exposes what lies within and may be met with contradiction. To receive him is to open the gates of the heart and allow him to purify our lives. In prayer, we can bring him our fears, our hidden thoughts, and our need for mercy, trusting that the One who shares our humanity is near enough to save us.

Lord Jesus, King of Glory and light for all peoples, enter the temple of my heart. Make me attentive to the quiet movements of your Spirit, like Simeon, and faithful in prayer, like Anna. Purify what keeps me from offering you a sincere life. When fear, temptation, or suffering weighs upon me, remind me that you have shared our flesh and are a merciful priest who comes to our aid. Give me courage to receive your light, even when it reveals difficult truths, and grace to speak of your salvation with humility and hope. Amen.