Saturday, November 27, 2021

Readings for November 28, 2021 annotated, lectionary 3, First Sunday in Advent

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= ṣḏāqâ

Blue Letter Bible

justice, righteousness; righteousness (as vindicated); justification, salvation; truthfulness; ethically right; rectitude; virtue

safe = יָשַׁע= yāšaʿ

Blue Letter Bible

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

Blue Letter Bible

to learn, teach, exercise in; to be taught, be trained; to goad; instruct; chastise, discipline; to train, accustom

shows= יָרָה = yarah

Blue Letter Bible

to point out; to direct, teach, instruct

humble = עָנָו=ʿānāv

Blue Letter Bible

poor, humble, afflicted, meek; lowly; miserable

keep = נָצַר= nāṣar

Blue Letter Bible

watch over; observe, guard with fidelity; to be kept close, be blockaded;protect, maintain, obey; preserve 

fear = יָרֵא= yare'

Blue Letter Bible

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 = γπη = agape

Blue Letter Bible

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 = στηρζω = stērizō

Blue Letter Bible

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 = παραγγελα = parangelia

Blue Letter Bible

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

Blue Letter Bible

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

Blue Letter Bible

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 = νακπτω = anakyptō

Blue Letter Bible

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 = παρω = epairō

Blue Letter Bible

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 = βαρνω = baryon

Blue Letter Bible

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 = γρυπνω = agrypneō   

Blue Letter Bible

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 = δομαι = deomai

Blue Letter Bible

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 

 

Wisdom Principles--Stay Focused on God & What He Has Given You to Do; Don’t Be Distracted By Other Things

 

Wisdom Principles—True Piety

 

 We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to receive all that God offers, But It Is Well Worth It 

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