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 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 wants us to do.
Links to collections of other scriptures addressing principles similar to those set out in these readings are provided at the very end of this post
Reading I: Jeremiah 33:14-16
The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: “The LORD our justice.”
just=צְדָקָה= ṣᵊḏāqâ
justice, righteousness; righteousness (as vindicated); justification, salvation; truthfulness; ethically right; rectitude; virtue
safe = יָשַׁע= yāšaʿ
to be liberated, be saved, be delivered; to save from moral troubles; to give victory to; to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; to free or succor; defend, help, preserve, rescue;be capacious, make wide, spacious, make sufficient, be or live in abundance; placed in freedom; give width and breadth to, liberate; save, from evils and troubles; to be opulent; to set free, preserve
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and for you I wait all the day.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
teach = לָמַד = lāmaḏ
to learn, teach, exercise in; to be taught, be trained; to goad; instruct; chastise, discipline; to train, accustom
shows= יָרָה = yarah
to point out; to direct, teach, instruct
humble = עָנָו=ʿānāv
poor, humble, afflicted, meek; lowly; miserable
keep = נָצַר= nāṣar
watch over; observe, guard with fidelity; to be kept close, be blockaded;protect, maintain, obey; preserve
fear = יָרֵא= yare'
revere; to stand in awe of, be awed; reverence, honour, respect; to cause astonishment; tremble; venerate
Reading II: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Finally, brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God and as you are conducting yourselves you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
love = ἀγάπη = agape
affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
the love of husband and wife; brotherly love, charity
strengthen = στηρίζω = stērizō
place firmly, set fast, fix;to strengthen, make firm; to render constant, confirm, one's mind; to turn resolutely in a certain direction; establish, steadfastly set, strengthen
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
make fast, prop, fix; ground, establish for oneself; to be firmly set or fixed, stand fast; get a firm footing; light heavily on it; fix, settle, determine
instructions = παραγγελία = parangelia
proclaiming or giving a message to; a charge, a command; mandate
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
command or order, order issued by an authority;set of rules or precepts; instruction, precept, advice
Alleluia: Psalm 85:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love; and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
love = חֶסֶד= ḥeseḏ
goodness, kindness, faithfulness; favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy; kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy; lovely appearance; of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures; redemption from enemies and troubles;in preservation of life from death; in quickening of spiritual life; in redemption from sin; in keeping the covenants; fidelity; abundant, plenteous in kindness (goodness); greatness of thy mercy; everlasting; plural mercies, deeds of kindness, the historic displays of lovingkindness; desire, ardor; zeal; benignity, benevolence, pity, mercy; grace
salvation = יֵשַׁע= yēšaʿ
deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, welfare, prosperity;physical rescue, by God, often with added spiritual idea; aid
Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.
Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
stand erect = ἀνακύπτω = anakyptō
Lift one’s self up;to raise; be elated or exalted
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
lift up the head; keep your head up; come up out of the water, pop up; emerge, crop up; rise out of difficulties, breathe again
raise = ἐπαίρω = epairō
Exalt, hoist, lift; to lift up, raise up, raise on high; to be lifted up with pride, to exalt one's self; look up
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
lift up and set on; lift, raise; exalt, magnify; swell up; stir up, excite; urge on, induce, persuade;to be roused, led on, excited; to be elated at a thing
drowsy = βαρύνω = baryon
to weigh down, overcharge
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
weigh down, oppress, depress, heavy, i. e. weary;disabled, oppressed by surfeit; distressed; made stubborn, was hardened;overloaded with
Vigilant = ἀγρυπνέω = agrypneō
the watchfulness of those who are intent upon a thing; keep awake, watch; to be circumspect, attentive, ready; keep awake:—watch;to exercise constant vigilance over something;a state untouched by any slumberous or beclouding influences, and thence, one that is guarded against advances of drowsiness or bewilderment; wariness
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
to be watchful; lie awake and think of
pray = δέομαι = deomai
to desire, to long for; beseech; make request; to ask, beg; to pray, make supplications
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
to be in want or need, require; beg
What to these readings tell us about God/His ways?
I will fulfill the promise I made
a just shoot
do what is right and just
The LORD our justice
your truth
you are God my savior
Good and upright is the LORD
he shows sinners the way
He guides the humble to justice
teaches the humblehis way
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him
for their instruction
your love
your salvation
they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory
your redemption is at hand.
What do these readings tell us to do?
do what is right and just
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul
[let Him] show[] ... the way
[be] humble
[let Him] guide ... to justice
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul
kindness and constancy
keep his covenant and his decrees.
fear him
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul
increase and abound in love for one another and for all
strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness
stand erect and raise your heads
Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
Be vigilant at all times
pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent
What do these readings tell us not to do?
become drowsy
carousing and drunkenness
anxieties of daily life
that day catch you by surprise
Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at:
Wisdom Principles—God is Supreme Over All Human Power/Plans
Wisdom Principles—God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him
Wisdom Principles: God’s Ways Give Security
Wisdom Principles—God Loves Humility and Hates Pride
Wisdom Principles—Rely on God, not Material Power or Wealth
We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to receive all that God offers, But It Is Well Worth It
