Readings for April 25, 2021 annotated, lectionary 50

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 the original Hebrew or Greek of what seem to be key words is provided in blue.  They are provided beneath the reading they relate to. 

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 about something God wants us not to do.  

Reading I

Acts 4:8-12

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said:
“Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”
 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 118:8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29

R.  (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
R.  The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior.
The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD; we bless you from the house of the LORD.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his kindness endures forever.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

Reading II

1 John 3:1-2

Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.

The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

 

know =γινώσκω =ginōskō

Blue Letter Bible

This verb represents knowledge as the effect of experience; perceive, feel; "to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand," or "to understand completely"; in its past tenses it frequently means "to know in the sense of realizing";"to know by observation and experience," is translated "to learn;"to become acquainted with;to come to know; idiom: to have sexual relations with

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon

come to know, perceive; now by reflection, know by observation;discern, distinguish, recognize; perceive; feel

see = ὀπτάνομαι = optanomai

Blue Letter Bible

to look at, behold

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon 

Look, look towards; have sight; take or give heed; behold, perceive, observe; keeping it in sight; look out for, provide; discern, perceive

 

Alleluia

John 10:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

know—see above

 

Gospel

John 10:11-18

Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 

A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.

I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.

This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”

know, knows—see above

hear = ἀκούω = akouō

Blue Letter Bible

Harkin to; to attend to, consider what is or has been said; to understand, perceive the sense of what is said; to give ear to a teaching or a teacher; to comprehend; to perceive anyone's voice; to yield to, hear and obey; have regard to; to perceive the distinct words of a voice; to yield obedience to the voice; to perceive in the soul

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon

hearken, give ear; listen to; obey; hear and understand; 

What these readings tell us about God/His Ways:

filled with the Holy Spirit

it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean ... whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed

He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone

There is no salvation through anyone else

The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone
he is good

his mercy endures forever
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone
you have answered me and have been my savior
The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone
By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD

you have answered me and have been my savior.
he is good

his kindness endures forever
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone

what love the Father has bestowed on us

we may be called the children of God

we are God’s children now

what we shall be has not yet been revealed.

when it is revealed we shall be like him
we shall see him as he is

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord

I know my sheep, and mine know me

I am the good shepherd

A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep

I am the good shepherd

I know mine and mine know me

the Father knows me and I know the Father

I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold

These also I must lead

they will hear my voice

there will be one flock, one shepherd.
the Father loves me

I lay down my life in order to take it up again

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own

I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again

This command I have received from my Father

What these readings tell us to do:

Give thanks to the LORD

take refuge in the LORD

take refuge in the 

give thanks 

give thanks 
Give thanks to the LORD

know him
see him as he is

know me.

A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep 

know me

hear my voice

there will be one flock, one shepherd

 

What these readings tell us not to do:

trust in man

trust in princes
runs away

has no concern for the sheep

 

Readings for April 18, 2021 annotated, lectionary 47

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 to collections of or meditations on other scriptures related to the principles underlying today’s readings.

Information about the meaning the original Hebrew or Greek of what seem to be key words is provided in blue.  They are provided beneath the reading they relate to. 

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. 

 

Reading I

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

Peter said to the people:

“The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence when he had decided to release him. You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.

Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”

repent = μετανοέω = metanoeō

Blue Letter Bible

to change one's mind;to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction)

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  

perceive afterwards, concur subsequently; change one's mind or purpose

 

wiped away =ἐξαλείφω= exaleiphō

Blue Letter Bible

Blot out, "to wash ... completely," obliterate; to anoint or wash in every part; erase; denoting completeness 

katabiblon.com

eliminate, delete, remove, expunge, make-extinct

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon 

wipe out, obliterate; wipe out of one's mind, cancel; blot it out, destroy

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9

R.  (7a) Lord, let your face shine on us.
When I call, answer me, O my just God, you who relieve me when I am in distress; have pity on me, and hear my prayer!
R.  Lord, let your face shine on us.
Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one; the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.
R.  Lord, let your face shine on us.
O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart.
R.  Lord, let your face shine on us.
As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep, for you alone, O LORD,
bring security to my dwelling.
R.  Lord, let your face shine on us.

prayer =תְּפִלָּה= tᵊp̄illâ

Blue Letter Bible

intercession, supplication; entreaty

call= קָרָא= qārā'

Blue Letter Bible

Call out, cry out;to summon, invite, call for; to call anyone to himself 

faithful =חָסִיד= ḥāsîḏ

Blue Letter Bible

kind, godly, holy one, saint, pious; merciful, gracious 

 

Reading II

1 John 2:1-5

My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.

The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Those who say, “I know him,” but do not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.

advocate = παράκλητος = paraklētos

Blue Letter Bible

lit., "called to one's side," i.e., to one's aid; one who pleads another's cause, an intercessor, advocate; in the widest sense, it signifies a "succorer, comforter”; summoned, called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid; one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate; one who pleads another's cause with one, an intercessor

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon

called to one's aid; summoned, intercessor  

keep, keeps = τηρέω =tēreō

Blue Letter Bible

to guard; to watch over, keep, give heed to, observe; hold fast;to attend to carefully, take care of 

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon 

watch over, take care of, guard; maintain; take care that; give heed to, watch narrowly, observe; notice; test by observation or trial;preserve, retain

Alleluia

C.f. Luke 24:32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you speak to us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel

Luke 24:35-48

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

Peace = εἰρήνη = eirēnē

Blue Letter Bible

harmonious relationships between men; friendliness; the sense of rest and contentment; The corresponding Heb. word shalom primarily signifies "wholeness";quietness; harmony, concord; security, safety, prosperity, felicity; quietness, rest;way leading to peace, a course of life promoting harmony; a formula of wishing well, blessing, addressed by the Hebrews to departing friends

 

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon 

profound peace 

 

repentance = μετάνοια = metanoia

Blue letter Bible

afterthought, change of mind; not simply a change of [] mind, but such a change as would reverse the effects of his [] previous state of mind;a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done; compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication, reversal (of (another's) decision); the change of mind of those who have begun to abhor their errors and misdeeds, and have determined to enter upon a better course of life, so that it embraces both a recognition of sin and sorrow for it and hearty amendment; that change of mind by which we turn from, desist from, etc.;the improved spiritual state resulting from deep sorrow for sin.

 

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon

change of mind or heart, repentance, regret, correction 

 

forgiveness = ἄφεσις = aphesis

Blue Letter Bible

"a release, from bondage, imprisonment, etc."; liberation from captivity; dismissal, release; remission; pardon of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty; forgiveness, pardon, of sins (properly, the letting them go, as if they had not been committed)

 

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon 

letting go, release; quittance from; discharge from

 What these readings tell us about God/His ways:

his servant Jesus

the Holy and Righteous One

The author of life

God raised him from the dead

God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand

Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away

my just God

you who relieve me when I am in distress

the LORD does wonders for his faithful one

the LORD will hear me when I call upon him
the light of your countenance
You put gladness into my heart.
you alone, O LORD, bring security to my dwelling

if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one

He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world

The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments

Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread

he stood in their midst and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations

 

What these readings tell us to do:

Repent, therefore, and be converted

prayer!
Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one

call upon him

keep his commandments

keeps his word