Sunday, August 29, 2021

Readings for August 29, 2021 annotated, lectionary 125, Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

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.  That information is provided beneath the specific reading the words are contained in. 

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 want us to do. 

 

Reading I

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8

Moses said to the people:
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.

***

Observethem carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?  Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?”

hear = שָׁמַע= šāmaʿ

Blue Letter Bible

listen to, obey; perceive by ear;to hear with attention or interest, listen to; give heed; to consent, agree; yield to;to obey, be obedient; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; to hear and answer; 

observe = עָשָׂה=ʿāśâ

Blue Letter Bible

to do, fashion, accomplish, make; work, make, produce; to deal (with); to act, act with effect, effect;to attend to, put in order; to observe, celebrate;accomplish, advance; follow, fulfill;be industrious, labor; yield; produce by labor

 

observance,observeשָׁמַר= šāmar

Blue Letter Bible

to keep, guard, observe, give heed; retain, treasure up (in memory); preserve; attend to

 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5

R. Theone who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.


R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD.


R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things shall never be disturbed.
R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

 

justice = צֶדֶק= ṣeḏeq

Blue Letter Bible

rightness, righteousness; justness; justness (of weights and measures); righteousness (in government); 

 

Reading II

James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27

Dearest brothers and sisters:
All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.  He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

***

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.

***

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Humbly= πρατης = prautēs

Blue Letter Bible

Meekness; mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit; 

R. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament

an inwrought grace of the soul; and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God (Matt. 11:29; Jam. 1:21). It is that temper of spirit in which we accept his dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting; This meekness, however, being first of all a meekness before God, is also such in the face of men, even of evil men, out of a sense that these, with the insults and injuries which they may inflict, are remitted and employed by Him for the chastening and purifying of his elect.

 

welcome = δχομαι = dechomai

Blue Letter Bible

to receive by deliberate and ready reception; taking with the hand, taking hold, taking hold of, taking up;to receive favourably, give ear to, embrace, make one's own, approve; to take upon one's self, sustain, bear, endure; to learn; to receive, grant access to; not to refuse contact or friendship

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

take, accept, receive; take, accept without complaint; accept graciously; approve; give ear to, hear; take or regard as,understand in a certain sense; take upon oneself; accept or admit as an ally;accept as security, entertain; expect, wait; occupy, engage one; receive, hold

 

doer = ποιητς = poiētēs

Blue Letter Bible

a maker; a doer, performer; one who obeys or fulfils

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

Maker; workman 

Alleluia

James 1:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands—For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves.  And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” 

He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
    This people honors me with their lips,
        but their hearts are far from me;
    in vain do they worship me,
        teaching as doctrines human precepts.

You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”

***

 

He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand.  Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.

***

“From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

hear = κοω = 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

understand= συνημι = syniēmi

Blue Letter Bible

to bring or set together, is used metaphorically of perceiving, understanding, uniting; to set or join together in the mind;to comprehend; consider, understand, be wise 

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

bring or set together, come together, come to an agreement; perceive, hear;to be aware of, take notice of, observe

 

defile = κοινω = koinoō

Blue Letter Bible

To make common; little, ordinary, or casual; to render unholy, unclean; render unhallowed, defile, profane; pollute

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

communicate, impart information; make common, share; defile;undertake together, make common cause in; take counsel with, consult; communicate

 

What these readings tell us about God/His ways:

Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence

For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? 

All good giving and every perfect gift is from above

the Father of lights

with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change

He willed to give us birth by the word of truth

The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth

Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the 

All these evils come from within and they defile

 

What these readings tell us to do:

hear

observe

observance of the commandments 

Observe them carefully

does justice 

walks blamelessly 

does justice

thinks the truth in his heart 

does justice 

harms not his fellow man

honors those who fear the LORD.

does justice 

who does justice 

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you 

Be doers of the word and not hearers only

care for orphans and widows in their affliction

keep oneself unstained by the world.

Hear me

understand

 

What these readings tell us not to do:

you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it

slanders

takes up a reproach against his neighbor

usury

bribe

disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition

evil thoughts

unchastity

theft

murder

adultery

greed

malice

deceit

licentiousness

envy

blasphemy

arrogance

folly

 

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Readings for August 15, 2021 annotated, lectionary 622, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

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.  That information is provided beneath the specific reading the words are contained in. 

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 want us to do. 

Reading I

Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab

God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

***

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.  She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.

Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth.

Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne.

The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God. 

***

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed One.”

salvation = σωτηρα =sōtēria

Blue Letter Bible

Safety, deliverance, preservation;deliverance from the molestation of enemies; rescue; health

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

deliverance, preservation; a way or means of safety; keeping safe, preservation; security, guarantee for safety;bodily health, well-being

 

power = δναμις = dynamis

Blue Letter Bible

power, ability;strength; strength power, ability; inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; moral power and excellence of soul 

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

power, might, bodily strength; strength, power, ability to do anything;outward power, influence, authority;faculty, capacity

 

kingdom = βασιλεα = basileia 

Blue Letter Bible

is primarily an abstract noun, denoting "sovereignty, royal power, dominion;" denoting the ... people over whom a king rules; the right or authority to rule;reign; royal power and dignity; the rule of God; God's rule, the divine administration; the universe subject to God's sway, God's royal domain

 

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

Dominion; being ruled by a king; reign

 

authority = ξουσιζω = exousiazō  

Blue Letter Bible

to exercise power, to have power or authority, use power; to be master of any one, exercise authority over one; to have full and entire authority over the body; to be brought under the power of anyone

 

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

exercise authority, have power 

 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 45:10, 11, 12, 16

R.    (10bc) Thequeen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.


R.    The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house.


R.    The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your lord.

 

R.    The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king.
R.    The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

 

Reading II

1 Corinthians 15:20-27

Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.”

brought to life = ζοποιω = zōopoieō

Blue Letter Bible

to make alive, cause to live, quicken;to make alive; to produce alive, begat or bear living young; to cause to live, make alive, give life; by spiritual power to arouse and invigorate; to restore to life; to give increase of life: thus of physical life; quickening as respects the spirit, endued with new and greater powers of life; of seeds quickened into life, i.e. germinating, springing up, growing;to reanimate

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

make alive; endow with life 

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessedare you who believedthat what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” 

And Mary said:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

haste =σπουδ= spoudē

Blue Letter Bible

haste, zeal, diligence; earnest care, carefulness; watchful interest; carefulness; striving after anything; dispatch; earnestness in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after anything 

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

with all dispatch; zeal, pains, trouble, effort; zealously, zealous exertions;to be eager,eagerness for; with great attention to,attentively; seriously, urgently 

filled = πμπλημι =pimplēmi

Blue Letter Bible

to fulfill, to be fulfilled, to complete, carry out to the full; what wholly takes possession of the mind; to complete, fill up; wholly take possession of

 

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

fill full, satisfy, glut

blessed = ελογω = eulogeō

Blue Letter Bible

to speak well of; to praise, to celebrate with praises; "to cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings on; favoured of God; speak well of;  

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

speak well of, praise, honour

 

Blessed= μακριος = makarios

Blue Letter Bible

Happy; supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off 

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

Happy, prosperous, bliss 

believe = πιστεω = 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

 

proclaim = μεγαλνω 

Blue Letter Bible

to make great; enlarged, magnified; to make conspicuous;to deem or declare great; to esteem highly, to extol, laud, celebrate; to get glory and praise

 

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

make great or powerful, exalt; make great by word, extol, magnify

 

rejoices = γαλλιω = agalliaō

Blue Letter Bible

to exult, rejoice greatly; jubilant exultation, spiritual gladness; to beexceeding glad; to jump for joy

 

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

rejoice exceedingly                                                                                        


What these readings tell us about God/His ways

She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations

she had a place prepared by God

Now have salvation and power come

the Kingdom of our God

the authority of his Anointed One.”

the king desire your beauty

he is your lord.
They are borne in with gladness and joy

Christ has been raised from the dead,
in Christ shall all be brought to life,
Christ the firstfruits;
he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father,
he has destroyed every sovereignty
and every authority and power
.
he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death,

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste

filled with the Holy Spirit

Blessed are you who believed

the greatness of the Lord

God my Savior
he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
all generations will call me blessed

the Almighty has done great things for me

holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
the strength of his arm

has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things

He has come to the help of his servant

he has remembered his promise of mercy

 

What these readings tell us to do:

Hear, O daughter, and see

turn your ear

forget your people and your father’s house

set out and traveled ... in haste 

Blessed are you who believed

rejoices in God my Savior
the lowly

 

What these readings tell us not to do:

the proud 

conceit