Saturday, December 04, 2021

Readings for December 5, 2021 annotated; lectionary 6, Second 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. 

Reading I:Baruch 5:1-9

Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.
    
Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God. Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones. For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God. The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God’s command; for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company.

 

Responsorial Psalm:Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 

R. (3)The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. 

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. 

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. 

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

great things = גָּדַל= gāḏal Blue Letter Bibleto grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things; twist a cord, make firm;  become strong, (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride); advance; increase, lift up, magnify; to make much of

joy = שָׂמֵחַ= śāmēaḥ Blue Letter Biblejoyful, merry, glad

Reading II: Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 

I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.

***

God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. 

pray, prayer = δησις =deēsisBlue Letter Biblean asking, entreaty, supplication, request; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon entreaty, petition 

joy = χαρ= chara Blue Letter BibleDelight, gladnessHenry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon delight  

complete = πιτελω = epiteleō Blue Letter Bibleaccomplish perfectly; perfect; to bring through to the end; perform; execute, complete; finish; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  complete, finish, accomplish, fulfillment; bring to perfection, in Logic, of a syllogism, to be made perfect, by reduction to the first figure; discharge 

love = γπη = agape  Blue Letter Bible affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love; Of the love of men to men, especially of that love of Christians toward Christians which is enjoined and prompted by their religion, whether the love be viewed as in the soul or as expressed; the love of men toward God, the love of God toward men,the love of God toward Christ, the love of Christ toward men,the love of Christ toward men; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  the love of husband and wife, love of God for man and of man for God; brotherly love, charity; alms, charity. 

overflow = περισσεω = perisseuō  Blue Letter Bible  Abundance, Abundant, Abundantly, Abound; exceeding a certain number, or measure, to be over; to redound to, or to turn out abundantly for something; to be abundantly furnished, to abound in a thing; to be more than enough, to be pre-eminent, superior; Exceed, Exceeding, Exceedingly;to be over and above, over a certain number or measure, to abound, exceed;to exist or be at hand in abundance; a thing which comes in abundance, or overflows unto one, something falls to the lot of one in large measure; superfluity; to furnish one richly so that he has abundance; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  to be over and above; to be more than enough, remain over;abundance, to abound in, to be superfluous;have more than enough of

knowledge = πγνωσις = epignōsis  Blue Letter Bible  full, or thorough knowledge, discernment, recognition; exact or full knowledge, discernment, recognition; precise and correct knowledge; full discernment;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  recognition

perception = ασθησις = aisthēsis   Blue Letter Bible  perception, not only by the senses but by the intellect;cognition, discernment; judgment;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  sense-perception, sensation,perception, knowledge of a thing, the means of observing

filled = πληρω = plēroō Blue Letter Bible to fulfill, to complete, carry out to the full; perfect; complete; to make full, to fill to the full; to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim; to make complete in every particular, to render perfect; to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out; bring to realisation, realise; to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram; to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally; to flood; diffuse throughout one's soul; pervade, take possession of;Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, make full; gorge, satiate, glut; complete; fulfill 

Alleluia:Luke 3:4, 6 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel: Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.

John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,  as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
    A voice of one crying out in the desert:
    “Prepare the way of the Lord,
        make straight his paths.
    Every valley shall be filled
        and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
    The winding roads shall be made straight,
        and the rough ways made smooth,
    and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

crying out (Greek, from Luke) = βοω = boaōBlue Letter Bible to raise a cry, to speak with a strong voice; speak with a high, strong voice; to halloo, i.e. shout (for help or in a tumultuous way);to cry to one for help, implore his aid;Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon roar, howl;call to one, call on; shout out for; noise abroad, celebrate; command in aloud notice to do a thing; to be filled with sound; to be deafened

crying out (Hebrew, from Isaiah 40:3) קָרָא= qārā' Blue Letter Bibleto call, cry, utter a loud sound;to proclaim; to read aloud, read (to oneself); the idea of accosting a person met; address by name;call=name= give name to; to call upon or to

Prepare (Greek, from Luke) = τοιμζω = hetoimazōBlue Letter Bibleto make the necessary preparations, get everything ready; prepare, provide, make ready; drawn from the oriental custom of sending on before kings on their journeys persons to level the roads and make them passableHenry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English LexiconGet ready; make oneself ready; to be prepared with 

Prepare (Hebrew, from Isaiah 40:3) = פָּנָה = pānâ Blue Letter Bible  to turn toward or from or away;to turn and do; to approach; make clear, clear away; to face;turn and look; regard; look for; turn away, put out of the way,make clear,clear away things scattered about, make orderly; to turn oneself; to direct one’s course, to intend, to propose to oneself

 

straight (Greek, from Luke) = εθς = euthys Blue Letter Bibleforthwithdirect, right; level; upright, true, sincere;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  straight, direct, whether vertically or horizontally; straightforward, frank; outright, openly, without reserve; directly; straightway, forthwith, immediately, as soon as; directly, simply

 

make straight (Hebrew, from Isaiah 40:3)= יָשַׁרyāšar Blue Letter Bible to be right, be straight, be level, be upright, be just, be lawful, be smooth; to be pleasing, be agreeable, be right; to make right, make smooth;to be made level, be laid smoothly out;direct, fit, seem good (meet), please; go straight; straightforward, upright; esteem as right; approve

 

What these readings tell us about God/His ways:

the splendor of glory from God

justice from God

children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One

they are remembered by God

Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory

Israel may advance secure in the glory of God

God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory

his mercy and justice for company.

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy
the LORD brought back the captives of Zion

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy
The LORD has done great things for them
The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed.

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy
Those who sowin tears shall reap rejoicing.

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy
Although they go forth weeping, 
carrying the seed to be sown
They shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy

I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it 

the affection of Christ Jesus

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God

all flesh shall see the salvation of God

the word of God came to John
A voice of one crying out in the desert
all flesh shall see the salvation of God


What these readings tell us to do:

take off your robe of mourning and misery

put on the splendor of glory from God foreverwrapped in the cloak of justice from God

bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name.

we are filled with joy

we are filled with joy

we are filled with joy
sow

we are filled with joy
carrying the seed to be sown
carrying their sheaves.
we are filled with joy.

pray always with joy in my every prayer 

partnership for the 

your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception

discern what is of value

be pure and blameless for the day of Christ

filled with the fruit of righteousness  

Prepare the way of the Lord

make straight his paths

Prepare the way of the Lord
make straight his paths

Every valley shall be filled

and every mountain and hill shall be made low

The winding roads shall be made straight

and the rough ways made smooth

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