Daily Prayers for February 2
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
On February 2, the church remembers -Jesus’ presentation at the temple in Jerusalem. Along with their newborn son, Mary and Joseph brought a sacrifice of two pigeons, the offering permitted in the law of Moses for those too poor to afford a lamb (Lev. 12:8). Despite their lack of wealth, however, these peasants from Galilee carried in their arms the salvation of the whole world. Simeon and Anna, a holy man and a devout woman of Israel, immediately recognized the incalculable value of the present they had brought. We sing “Simeon’s Song” (see Saturday in the Evening Prayer section) to train our eyes to see the salvation of the world in the presents of the poor.
O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Come, let us sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Song “Vamos Todos al Banquete”
Our eyes have seen your salvation, Lord : which you have prepared for all to see.
Psalm 10:15 – 19
The helpless commit themselves to you : for you are the helper of orphans.
Break the power of the wicked and evil : search out their wickedness until you find none.
The Lord is King for ever and ever : the ungodly shall perish from his land.
The Lord will hear the desire of the humble : you will strengthen their heart and your ears shall hear;
to give justice to the orphan and oppressed : so that mere mortals may strike terror no more.
Our eyes have seen your salvation, Lord : which you have prepared for all to see.
Malachi 3:1 – 4 Luke 2:22 – 40
Our eyes have seen your salvation, Lord : which you have prepared for all to see.
This quote comes from the apocryphal writing known as the Acts of Peter: “Unless you make what is right left, and what is left right, what is above into what is below, and what is behind into what is in front, you will not learn to know the Kingdom.”
Prayers for Others
Our Father
Things are topsy-turvy in your kingdom, God. The poor bear gifts of great worth, the dead rise, the meek inherit the earth. Teach us how to live in an upside-down world where we are called to welcome the outcast, prepare a feast for the ragged, and forgive those who offend us. Amen.
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.
