Sunday, December 27, 2020

Readings for December 27, 2020 annotated, lectionary 17

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. 

Other bolded hyperlinks will take you to collections/analyses of other scriptures addressing similar principles 

Excerpts collected in yellow  at the end of this post tell us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. 

Excerpts collected in green at the end of this post tell us about something God wants us to do. 

Excerpts collected in red at the end of this post tell us what not to do

Reading 1 

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard; he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children, and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life; he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

***

My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life; kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins—a house raised in justice to you.

Other scriptures addressing these principles are collected/analyzed at:

Wisdom Principles—Parents & Children

What Scripture Says About How to Honor Parents

 

Responsorial Psalm 

Psalm 128:1-5

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

Other scriptures on the benefits that come from adhering to God’s ways are collected at:

Wisdom Principles: God’s Ways Give Security

Wisdom Principles: We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to Receive All that God Offers, But It Is Well Worth It 


Reading 2 

Colossians 3:12-21

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.

This passage’s directions to husbands are considered at Scriptural directions for husbands, annotated—Colossians 3:19 


Alleluia 

Colossians 3:15,16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel 

Luke 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, everymale that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, inaccordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. 

He came in the Spirit into the temple;  and when the parents brought in the child Jesus  to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,  he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” 

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;  and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted—and you yourself a sword will pierce—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. 

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

This passage is analyzed at: 

What We Can Learn from Jesus’ Nativity: Jesus’ Circumcision and Presentation; Mary’s Purification (Luke 2:21-24)

 What We Can Learn from Jesus’ Nativity: Simeon Blesses Mary (Luke 2:25-35) 

 See also: What We Can Learn from Jesus' Nativity: The Annunciation through Simeon & Anna

 

What these readings tell us about God and His ways:

God sets a father in honor over his children

a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons
Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from them. When he prays, he is heard

he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children, and, when he prays, is heard.

kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins

Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork

Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways
thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD

you were also called in one body

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord

This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

He came in the Spirit into the temple

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him 
and Simeon blessed them

She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer

they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord

 

What these readings tell us to do:

honors his father 

reveres his mother
honors his father 
reveres his father 

obeys his father 

brings comfort to his mother.

take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life

kindness to a father 

fear the Lord 

walk in his ways.
fears the LORD

walks in his ways
fear the Lord 

walk in his ways
fear the Lord

walk in his ways
fears the LORD.
fear the Lord 

walk in his ways

the peace of Christ control your hearts

be thankful

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

teach and admonish one another

singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God

whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands

Husbands, love your wives
Children, obey your parents 

Let the peace of Christ control your hearts

let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

This man was righteous and devoutawaiting the consolation 

He came in the Spirit into the temple

blessed God

 worshiped night and day 

spoke about the child to all 

they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord

What these readings tell us not to do:

avoid any bitterness toward them [your wife].

Fathers, do not provoke your children

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