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 of what seem to be key words is provided in blue. They are provided beneath the specific reading the words appear in.
Portions highlighted in yellow tell us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. They are also collected at the end of this post
Portions in green text tell us about something God wants us to do. They too are also collected at the end of this post.
First reading: Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!”
Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry, together they shout for joy, for they see directly, before their eyes, the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the LORD comforts his people, he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.
shout for joy= נָשָׂא= nāśā'Blue Letter Bibleto lift, lift up;to be lifted up, be exalted; to be taken away, be carried off, be swept away; to lift oneself up, exalt oneself; extol; to lift up one’s countenance; to lift up the soul
together = יַחַד= yaḥaḏ Blue Letter Bible union, unitedness; together, altogether, all together, alike; together, of community in action, place, or time; junction; joined together;
song = רָנַן= rananBlue Letter Bible to overcome; to cry out, shout for joy, give a ringing cry; triumph
Responsorial psalm: Psalm 98:1,2-3,3-4,5-6
R. (3c) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing = שִׁיר= šîr Blue Letter Bible to sing
Song = שִׁיר= šîrBlue Letter Bible song, lyrical song
Sing joyfully = רוּעַ= rûaʿBlue Letter Bible to shout, raise a sound, cry out, give a blast; to shout in triumph or applause; to shout in triumph; to shout joyfully; give a blast with clarion or horn; to make a loud noise
Sing praise = זָמַר= zamar Blue Letter Bible to sing, sing praise; to make music; to play a musical instrument; to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music:—give praise, sing forth praises, psalms; make music in praise of God; to pluck; to dance
Second reading: Hebrews 1:1-6
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things andthrough whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
Whenhe had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angelsas the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my son; this day I have begotten you?
Or again:
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me?
And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says:
Let all the angels of God worship him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. For today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; thelight shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light,which enlightens everyone,was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
What these readings tell us about God/His ways:
him who brings glad tidings
announcing peace
bearing good news
announcing salvation
Your God is King!
the LORD restoring Zion
the LORD comforts his people
he redeems
The LORD has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations
all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him
his holy arm.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his salvation known
he has revealed his justice.
his kindness
his faithfulness
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
sing joyfullybefore the King, the LORD.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
he has spoken to us through the Son
he made heir of all things
through whom he created the universe
who is the refulgence of his glory
he very imprint of his being
who sustains all things by his mighty word.
he had accomplished purification from sins
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high
superior to the angels
You are my son
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me
he leads the firstborn into the world
all the angels of God worship him.
a great light has come upon the earth.
In the beginning was the Word
the Word was with God
the Word was God
All things came to be through him
without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life
the light of the human race
light shines in the darkness
and the darkness has not overcome it.
The true light
which enlightens everyone
was coming into the world
the world came to be through him
to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name
the Word became flesh
made his dwelling among us
his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son
full of grace and truth.
he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
What these readings tell us to do:
shout for joy
Break out together in song
Sing to the LORD a new song
Sing joyfully to the LORD
break into song
sing praise.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song.
adore the Lord
