Tuesday, February 3

The Midday Office To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m

The Call to Prayer

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;* sing praises to the Lord. He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;* he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.

Psalm 68:33–34

The Request for Presence

May the glory of the LORD endure for ever;* may the LORD rejoice in all his works.

Psalm 104:32

The Greeting

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,* O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

The Refrain for the Midday Lessons

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long.

Psalm 71:24

A Reading

When the period of purification is over, for either boy or girl, she will bring the priest at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting a lamb one year old for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or turtledove as a sacrifice for sin. The priest must offer this before YAHWEH, perform the rite of expiation for her, and she will be purified from her discharge of blood. Such is the law concerning a woman who gives birth to either a boy or a girl. If she cannot afford a lamb, she must take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for the burnt offering and the other for the sacrifice of sin. The priest will perform the rite of expiation for her and she will be purified.

Leviticus 12:6–8

The Refrain

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long.

The Midday Psalm

My Soul Longs for the Courts of the LORD

How dear to me is your dwelling, O LORD of hosts!* My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. The sparrow has found her a house 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. Happy are they who dwell in your house!* they will always be praising you. Happy are the people whose strength is in you!* whose hearts are set on the pilgrims’ way. Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs,* for the early rains have covered it with pools of water. They will climb from height to height,* and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion. LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;* hearken, O God of Jacob. Behold our defender, O God;* and look upon the face of your Anointed.

Psalm 84:1–8

The Refrain

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long.

The Gloria

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

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name. May your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Set me free, O God, from the bondage of my sins, and give me the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to me in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. †

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

Almighty and ever living God, I humbly pray that, as your only begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so I may be presented to you with a pure and clean heart by Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. †