Readings for May 30, 2021 annotated, lectionary 165, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

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 Greek of what seem to be key words is provided in blue.  They are provided beneath the specific 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 does not wants us to do. 

 

Reading I

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40

Moses said to the people:
"Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of? Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?

This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other.

You must keep his statutes and commandments that I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."

know =יָדַע= yāḏaʿ

Blue Letter Bible

to perceive and see, find out and discern; to discriminate, distinguish; to know by experience; to recognize; be acquainted with;to know (a person carnally);to know how, be skillful in; to have knowledge, be wise; to be made known, be or become known, be revealed; to be instructed; privy to; seeing; observe with the eyes; be aware of; to get to know, discover; to turn the mind to anything, to care about, to see about

 

heart  = לֵבָב = lebab

Blue Letter Bible

inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding; mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory; inclination, resolution, determination (of will); seat of appetites; seat of emotions and passions; mode of thinking and acting; will and purpose; intellect

 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22

R. (12b)  Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made; by the breath of his mouth all their host.
For he spoke, and it was made; he commanded, and it stood forth.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put our hope in you.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

fear = יָרֵא= yare'

Blue Letter Bible

revere; to stand in awe of, be awed; reverence, honour, respect; to cause astonishment; tremble; venerate

hope = יָחַל= yāḥal

Blue Letter Bible

to wait, hope, expect; to be patient; tarry, trust

waits = חָכָה = ḥāḵâ

Blue Letter Bible

to adhere to; hence, to await:—long, tarry 

kindness= חֶסֶד= checed

Blue Letter Bible

goodness, kindness, faithfulness; favour; (loving-) kindness; pity, zeal; benevolence; grace

 

Reading II

Romans 8:14-17

Brothers and sisters:
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption, through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!”

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

adoption = υἱοθεσία = yhiothesia

Blue Letter Bible

the placing as a son

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

adoption as a son

suffer = συμπάσχω = sympaschō

Blue Letter Bible

to suffer or feel pain together; to suffer evils (troubles, persecutions) in the like manner with another; to experience pain jointly or of the same kind

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

have the same thing happen to one; to be affected in common with; have a fellow-feeling, sympathize, feel sympathy  

Alleluia

Revelation 1:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; to God who is, who was, and who is to come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel

Matthew 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.

Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

approached = προσέρχομαι = proserchomai

Blue Letter Bible

to come or go near to; draw near; approach

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

come or go to; approach, draw nigh; come in, surrender, capitulate; come forward to speak; appear before a tribunal; approach an official; have recourse to

 

behold= ἰδού = idou = ē-dü'

Blue Letter Bible

Imperative moods, Active and Middle Voices, respectively, of eidon, "to see," calling attention to what may be seen or heard or mentally apprehended in any way.

giving a peculiar vivacity to the style by bidding the reader or hearer to attend to what is said

 

 

What these readings tell us about God/His ways

the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other
keep his statutes and commandmentsthat I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Upright is the word of the LORD

all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right

the kindness of the Lord

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made

he spoke, and it was made

he commanded, and it stood forth.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
our help and our shield.
your kindness

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God

you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear

you received a Spirit of adoption, through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God

Jesus approached

All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me

What these readings tell us to do:

know, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other

keep his statutes and 

fear him

hope for his kindness
waits for the LORD

led by the Spirit of God 

cry, “Abba, Father!”

make disciples of all nations, baptizing them 

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you

I am with you always, until the end of the age 

What these readings tell us not to do:

fall back into fear

Readings for May 23, 2021 annotated, lectionary 63, Pentecost Sunday

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 Greek of what seem to be key words is provided in blue.  They are provided beneath the specific 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 does not wants us to do. 

 

Reading I

Acts 2:1-11

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. 

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.”

 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O LORD! the earth is full of your creatures.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme; I will be glad in the LORD.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

 

Reading II

Galatians 5:16-25

Brothers and sisters, live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want.

But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Against such there is no law.

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

live = περιπατέω = peripateō

Blue Letter Bible

to make one's way, progress;  “to walk,” is sometimes used of the state in which one is living, or of that to which a person is given; to regulate one's life;to conduct one's self; to pass one's life; deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary);go, be occupied with;to make a due use of opportunities; to frequent, stay in; the garment one is clothed in; to associate with one, to be one's companion, used of one's followers and votaries; the standard according to which one governs his life

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

walk up and down,as in a cloister; traverse;walk about while teaching, discourse      

gratify = τελέω = teleō

Blue Letter Bible

to carry out a thing to the full; to complete, finish, bring to an end; to go through or over; to pay; to perform;to perform, execute, complete, fulfil, (so that the thing done corresponds to what has been said, the order, command etc.); to pay tribute

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

Fulfill, glut,grant one the fulfilment or accomplishment of anything; grant in full, work out; bring to fulfilment or perfection; bring to an end, finish; pay what one owes, what is due; lay out, spend; consume, eat;to belong to a class, to be reckoned among;to be consecrated to

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

John 15:26-27; 16:12-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

***

“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

 

testify = μαρτυρέω = martyreō

Blue Letter Bible

Report; "to be a witness, bear witness;to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows; to give (not to keep back) testimony;to utter honourable testimony, give a good report; implore; bear record; to prove or confirm; to bring forward evidence to prove

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

bear witness, give evidence; bear favourable witness to, give a good report of;acknowledge the value of

guide = ὁδηγέω = hodēgeō

Blue Letter Bible

lead the way; to be a guide, lead on one's way, to guide; to be a teacher;to give guidance to; to show the way

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

lead one upon his way

truth = ἀλήθεια = aletheia

Blue Letter Bible

the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter; that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit; sincerity of mind and integrity of character, or a mode of life in harmony with divine truth; veracity

 

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

The opposite of lie or mere appearance; reality; 

speak = λαλέω =laleō

Blue Letter Bible

To say, utter, talk; to utter a voice or emit a sound; to utter articulate sounds; to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts; preach; tell; promulgate; converse; commanding

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

talk, chat; speak; 

declare = ἀναγγέλλω = anangellō

Blue Letter Bible

announce, report, bring back tidings; bring back word; make known; speak; rehearse 

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

carry back tidings of, report, proclaim 

glorify = δοξάζω = doxazō

Blue Letter Bible

to magnify, extol, praise;ascribing honor to, acknowledging; to make glorious, adorn with lustre, clothe with splendor;  to make renowned, render illustrious; to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged; to honour, do honour to, hold in honour;to exalt to a glorious rank or condition

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

think, imagine; suppose; form or hold an opinion; magnify, extol;to be distinguished, held in honour

 

[This description of the Holy Spirit sounds a lot like the description of Wisdom set out in Wisdom 7:25-26:  

For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.

26 For she reflects eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness.]

 

What these readings tell us about God/His ways:

there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind

it filled the entire house in which they were

there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them

they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

each one heard them speaking in his own language

O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works

the earth is full of your creatures.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever

the LORD be glad in his works!
If you take away their breath, they perish

When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh

In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father

the Spirit of truth

proceeds from the Father

he will testify to me

I have much more to tell you
he comes

the Spirit of truth

he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears

He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine

Everything that the Father has is mine

he will take from what is mine and declare it to you

 

What these readings tell us to do:

Bless the LORD, O my soul

Pleasing to him be my theme

I will be glad in the LORD
live by the Spirit 

guided by the Spirit

love 

patience

kindness

generosity

faithfulness

gentleness

self-control

you also testify

 

What these readings tell us not to do:

gratify the desire of the flesh

immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.

Readings for May 16, 2021 annotated, lectionary 58, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

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 Greek of what seem to be key words is provided in blue.  They are provided beneath the specific 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 1:1-11

In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. 

While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

Instructions =ἐντέλλω = entellō

Blue Letter Bible

Charge, to order, command, enjoin

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

enjoin, command 

power = δύναμις = dynamis

Blue Letter Bible

Force; ability, capability, ability to perform anything; used of works of a supernatural origin and character, such as could not be produced by natural agents and means; strength; moral power and excellence of soul;ability, abundance, meaning; the power of God; the power of performing miracles; authority

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

strength, power, ability to do anything;outward power, influence, authority; means; faculty, capacity;function, meaning; faculty, art, or craft; potency; force or meaning; manifestation of divine power, miracle

witnesses= μάρτυς= martys

Blue Letter Bible

one who can or does aver what he has seen or heard or knows;one who is a spectator of anything; those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death; one who is mindful, heeds 

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

Witness; martyr 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

Reading II

Ephesians 1:17-23

Brothers and sisters:
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Alleluia

Matthew 28:19a, 20b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel

Mark 16:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. 

But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

preach = κηρύσσω = kēryssō

Blue Letter Bible

to be a herald, or, in general, to proclaim, publish;to proclaim after the manner of a herald; always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed; proclaim openly: something which has been done 

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

to be a herald, officiate as herald; to be an auctioneer; make proclamation; summon; extoll; call upon, invoke; announce; advertise; invite; declare, tell, crow

believe = πιστεύω = pisteuō

Blue Letter Bible

to be persuaded of, and hence, to place confidence in, to trust, signifies, in this sense of the word, reliance upon, not mere credence; to entrust, commit to; to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in; to credit; the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul; mere acknowledgment of some fact or event: intellectual faith; put in trust with; a conviction, full of joyful trust ...conjoined with obedience; to have a faith directed unto, believing or in faith to give oneself up to

 

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

trust, put faith in, rely on; entertain a confident opinion; comply; believe that, feel confident that a thing is, will be, has been; have faith; entrust

 

worked = συνεργέω = synergeō

Blue Letter Bible

to help in work, to co-operate, be a co-worker; to work with or together; be partner in labour; to put forth power together with and thereby to assist; to be a fellow-worker, i.e. co-operate; to assist, help

 

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

help in work, co-operate; assist, contribute to or towards; facilitate

 

What these readings tell us about God/His ways:

giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen

He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God

you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit

It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority

you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you

Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the 

the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.

God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy

For king of all the earth is God

God reigns over the nations

a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him

the hope that belongs to his call

the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones

the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe

the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ

raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens

far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come

he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things the church, which is his body

the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

I am with you always, until the end of the world
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned

These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover

took his seat at the right hand of God

the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs

What these readings tell us to do:

wait for

the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak

be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth

clap your hands

shout to God with cries of gladness

Sing praise to God

sing praise

sing praise to our king

sing praise
sing hymns of praise

knowledge of him

Go and teach all nations

Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature