Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection February 02, 2026
Monday – Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
02nd February 2026 (Monday)
Psalter: Proper
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But 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. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.”
Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10 (R. 10bc)
R/. The Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory!
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Since the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marvelled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband, seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God, and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favour of God was upon him.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: The Presentation of the Lord Jesus is more than a simple act of worship. It is a unique combination of ritual, light, and mystery. God offers His Son to us, and we learn to offer ourselves completely back to God.
1. The prophet Malachi foretells the coming of the Lord saying, “The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant… behold, he is coming.” But he also poses a very weighty question: “Who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?” For he will be like a refiner’s fire and fuller’s soap. The Lord’s coming brings us comfort, but also calls us to be cleansed.
2. This prophecy is clearly fulfilled on the Feast of Presentation. God visits His temple, but this time it is in the form of a small, fragile Child held by Mary and Joseph. The Lord of all creates and enters His own temple as one who is small and insignificant. However, in his apparent weakness is the fire that will suffer and cleanse His people by consuming their sin.
3. The Gospel describes a devoted simple family on their way to Jerusalem to “present Him to the Lord” and “do for Him according to the custom of the law.” Jesus, the Son of God, humbles Himself to the law which He instituted. The One who is the true Temple allows Himself to be carried into the Old Temple. By doing this, He sanctifies it from the inside, and inaugurates a new worship in Spirit and Truth.
4. This scene also reveals the beauty of obedience. Mary and Joseph, though poor and simple, and faithful. The law is not a burden for them, and a burden to them, it is a pathway to God. Very much against today’s God is Old attitude, the Holy Family reveals that true holiness comes from Jesus, through the simple and humble obedience to the law.
5. In the temple we encounter the wonderful characters of Simeon and Anna. Simeon is described as righteous and devout, and is awaiting the consolation of Israel. Anna is an advanced age prophetess who is described as not leaving the temple, praying and fasting night and day. Their long waiting is not wasted time, but rather a school of hope, as they are true representations of the “little faithful ones” who wait, and who are the most important in the eyes of the Lord.
6. When Simeon embraces the Child, he is given the fulfillment of his entire life. Now, Lord, you can let your servant depart in peace… For my eyes have seen your salvation.” The true peace of life is not having seen everything, but having seen the Lord, and recognized his salvation. All the waiting in life is given true meaning with just one encounter with Christ.
7. Simeon also proclaims that this Child is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” and “a sign that will be contradicted.” The light of Christ reveals and saves, but also provokes and divides. He will be welcomed by the humble and resisted by the proud. The sincere will be comforted, but the same light will also unmask the hidden thoughts of many hearts.
8. To Mary, Simeon addresses a mysterious and painful prophecy: “a sword will pierce through your own soul also.” The Presentation already points toward Calvary. The Child who is now offered in the temple will later offer Himself on the Cross; and His Mother, who now offers Him in joy, will stand beneath the Cross in sorrow. True offering is not sentimental; it passes through the sword of sacrifice.
9. Jesus shares the mystery of Hebrews with us when he says ‘flesh and blood’ so that to destroy ‘the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil’, and to set free all those who through fear of death were to be imprisoned. He becomes ‘like his brethren in every respect’ so that he can be a merciful and faithful High Priest. The Child in the temple is already the Priest and Victim who will reconcile us with the Father.
10. The feast thus invites us to our own presentation. We are also called to be brought into God’s presence to be purified like silver, and let the Lord refine our selfishness, pride and compromise. He is to offer our lives, our families, our communities as living sacrifices in union with Christ. The more we cling to our own plans, the less we belong to God. The more we place ourselves in His hands, the more our lives will enlighten others.
My Practice: For Jesus’s sake, let us be carried into the Father’s Presence; let us be as purified as silver from the refiner’s fire, and, as Simeon and Anna, let our long waiting, our painful and prayerful, longing be fulfilled in one great embrace as the Lord, our Light, and our Salvation.
