Sunday, September 20, 2020

Readings for September 20,2020 annotated, lectionary 133

This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks will take you to additional translations. The entire chapter is included to provide context.

Information about the meaning of the original Hebrew of Greek and other versions’ translations of italicized words is provided in blue beneath each reading.

Text highlighted in yellow tells us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him.  

Text in green tells us about something God wants us to do. 

Text in red  describes what God tells us not to do. 

Reading 1 

Isaiah 55:6-9

Seek  the LORD while he may be found, call  him while he is near. Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts; let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.

Seekדָּרַשׁ= darash

Blue Letter Bible

to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require;  to consult, enquire of, seek;to seek deity in prayer and worship; to ask for, require, demand; to practice, study, follow, seek with application; to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship; to read or beat a path; to go to a place, to frequent it; to apply oneself, to study, to practice, to follow

Callקָרָא= qara'

Blue Letter Bible

to call unto, cry (for help); 

Turnשׁוּב= shuwb

Blue Letter Bible

to return unto, go back, come back; to restore, refresh, repair (fig); to turn one’s self; to cease from, leave off; renew

King James Version. English Standard Version, Christian Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New English Translation, Revised Standard Version, American Standard Version, Youngs Literal Translation, Darby, Webster’s, Hebrew Names Version

“return”

 

Responsorial Psalm 

Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18

R. (18a) The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
Every day will I bless you, and I will praisey our name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.

Callקָרָא= qara'

See above

Blessבָּרַךְ= barak

Blue Letter Bible

to bless, kneel; salute; praise; to invoke God, ask for a blessing; celebrate; 

"adore"

New Living Translation, New International Version, Hebrew Names Version:

“praise"

Praise, praisedהָלַל= halal

Blue Letter Bible

Shine; flash forth light, boast, be boastful; commend; to celebrate; to make brilliant; to make a show; to glory

 New International Version, Hebrew Names Version:

“extol”


Reading 2 

Philippians 1:20-24

Brothers and sisters:
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.  If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose.  I am caught between the two.  I long to depart this life and be with Christ,
for that is far better.  Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit. Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.

 

Alleluia 

Acts 16:14B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord, 
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel 

Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.  After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 

Going out about nine o’clock, the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off.  And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, the landowner found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’

When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.  

 

So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage.  And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’

He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you.  Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?  Take what is yours and go.  

What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?  Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?  Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Generous = γαθς = agathos

Blue Letter Bible

Good, kind; of good constitution or nature;good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; excelling in any respect, distinguished; benevolent, kind, generous; beneficent

King James Version, American Standard Version, Young’s literal translation, Darby, Hebrew Name version:

“good”

 New Living Translation:

“kind”

 

Liddell & Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon

well-born, gentle; good, capable


 

What these readings tell us about God:

our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways

As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.

The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised

his greatness is unsearchable.
The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is gracious and merciful

slow to anger

of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all

compassionate

The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is just in all his ways

holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him

am I not free to do as I wish

I am generous
the last will be first, and the first will be last


What these readings tell us to do:

Seek the LORD 

call him 

Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts

turn to the LORD for mercy

call upon him.
I bless you

praise your name 

call upon him.
call upon him.
call upon him

call upon him in truth.

call upon him.

fruitful labor 

conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.

listen to the words of your Son


What these readings tell us not to do:

they grumbled

envious

 

 

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