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Sunday, February 2, 2025
Pastor Kyle Giermann
Pastor Kyle Giermann
Sunday, February 2, 2025
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First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4

This reading concludes a larger section (2:17—3:5) in which the prophet speaks of the coming of the God of justice. Malachi looks for that day when the wondrous power of God will purify the priestly descendents of Levi who minister in the temple at Jerusalem.
1See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
  For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Psalm: Psalm 84

How dear to me is your dwelling, O Lord(Ps. 84:1)
1How dear to me | is your dwelling,
  O | Lord of hosts!
2My soul has a desire and longing for the courts | of the Lord;
  my heart and my flesh rejoice in the | living God.
3Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest where she may | lay her young,
  by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king | and my God.
4Happy are they who dwell | in your house!
  They will always be | praising you. R
5Happy are the people whose strength | is in you,
  whose hearts are set on the | pilgrims’ way.
6Those who go through the balsam valley will find it a | place of springs,
  for the early rains have covered it with | pools of water.
7They will climb from | height to height,
  and the God of gods will be | seen in Zion.
8Lord God of hosts, | hear my prayer;
  give ear, O | God of Jacob. R
9Behold our defend- | er, O God;
  and look upon the face of | your anointed.
10For one day in your courts is better than a | thousand elsewhere.
  I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents | of the wicked.
11For the Lord God is both sun and shield, bestowing | grace and glory;
  no good thing will the Lord withhold from those who walk | with integrity.
12| Lord of hosts,
  happy are they who put their | trust in you! R

Psalm (alternate): Psalm 24:7-10

Lift up your heads, O gates, that the King of glory may come in. (Ps. 24:7)
7Lift up your heads, O gates; and be lifted up, O ever- | lasting doors,
  that the King of glory | may come in.
8Who is this | King of glory?
  The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, might- | y in battle! R
9Lift up your heads, O gates; and be lifted up, O ever- | lasting doors,
  that the King of glory | may come in.
10Who is this | King of glory?
  Truly, the Lord of hosts is the | King of glory. R

Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18

Jesus shared human nature fully so that his death might be for all humans a liberation from slavery to death’s power. Here the writer uses the image of priestly service in the temple as a way of describing the life and saving death of the Lord Jesus. He is the high priest who offers his life on behalf of his brothers and sisters.
14Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, [Jesus] himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

This story is a study in contrasts: the infant Jesus with the aged prophets; the joy of birth with the ominous words of Simeon to Mary; the faithful fulfilling of the law with the presentation of the one who will release its hold over us. Through it all, we see the light of God’s salvation revealed to the world.
22When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, [Mary and Joseph] brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
  according to your word;
30for my eyes have seen your salvation,
  31which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
  and for glory to your people Israel.”
 33And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
 36There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
 39When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.