The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord | Thursday 2 February 2023

Today is Thursday the 2nd of February, the feast of the Presentation of Our Lord.


The Choir of Holy Sepulchre London sings, ‘Present Yourselves As A Living Sacrifice’.

Lyrics currently unavailable

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Malachi.

Malachi 3:1-4

See, 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. 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 descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

The book of the prophet Malachi makes sobering reading. It records a conversation between God and a people of Israel whose devotion had become lukewarm.

The imagery is powerful and vivid. Feel the heat of a refining fire. Feel the effect of a cleansing wash.


Am I in need of this deep renewing? How might I be more honouring to God? What holds me back?


As you hear the passage again, try and allow your reverence for God to take you to a new place. You might want to kneel, for example, or adopt another position of worship.

As this time of prayer comes to a close, you might like to sit, stand, kneel, or bow, in the holy presence of God.


Allow God - the God who forgives, who refines, who cleanses - to look at you in love.


Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.