Saturday, January 29, 2022

Readings for January 30, 2022 annotated, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Lectionary 72

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. 

Links to collections of other scriptures addressing principles similar to those set out in these readings are provided after each reading.

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: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 

The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Before I formedyou in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.

***

... girdyour loins; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account as though I would leave you crushed before them; for it is I this day who have made you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land: against Judah’s kings and princes, against its priests and people. They will fight against you but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

formed = יָצַר= yāṣar  Blue Letter Bible  to fashion, frame;to frame, pre-ordain, plan (fig. of divine) purpose of a situation);to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution); purpose; frame, devise in the mind; destine

knew =יָדַע= yāḏaʿBlue Letter Bible to perceive and see, find out and discern; to discriminate, distinguish; to know by experience; to recognize; be acquainted with;to know (a person carnally);to know how, be skillful in; to have knowledge, be wise;  to be made known, be or become known, be revealed; to be instructed; privy to; seeing; observe with the eyes; be aware of; to get to know, discover; to turn the mind to anything, to care about, to see about 

dedicated = קָדַשׁ= qāḏaš  Blue Letter Bible  to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate; to be set apart; to be hallowed; be treated as sacred; to set apart, devote; appoint; prepare; be hallowed, by contact with sacred things, and so tabooed from profane use; be pure, clean

appointed = נָתַן= nāṯan  Blue Letter Bibleto give, bestow, grant; consecrate, devote, dedicate; entrust, give over, deliver up; yield produce; be (healed); pour; print; teach; to apply the heart to; to constitute, to make a thing like or similar to

gird = אָזַר= 'āzar  Blue Letter Bible encompass, equip, clothe; hold close, clasp; belt; bind

stand up = קוּם= qûm  Blue Letter Bible  to rise, arise, stand, rise up; become powerful, strengthen; come on the scene; to maintain oneself;  be established; endure; abide; continue; be fixed; station; to listen to God's word; arise for action; raise oneself; lift up; go forth; erect, raise up; cause to come forth; constitute

crushed = חָתַת= ḥāṯaṯ  Blue Letter Bible  to be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, be abolished, be afraid; to prostrate; hence, to break down, either (literally) by violence, or (figuratively) by confusion and fear; beat down; discourage; scare; terrify; confounded; put to shame 

made = נָתַן= nāṯan Blue Letter Bible to give, bestow, grant; consecrate, dedicate; entrust, give over, deliver up; yield produce; be (healed); pour; print; teach; to apply the heart to; to constitute, to make a thing like or similar to

fortified = מִבְצָר= miḇṣār  Blue Letter Bible  fortress, stronghold; castle; figuratively, a defender; strong (hold)

fight = לָחַם= lāḥam  Blue Letter Bible  to fight, do battle, make war; to eat, use as food,to feed on; figuratively, to consume, devour

prevail = יָכֹל= yāḵōl  Blue Letter Bible  to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able; to be able, be able to gain or accomplish, be able to endure, be able to reach, be able, to do a thing, whether ability be physical, moral, constitutional, or dependent on external authority; be victor; attain; suffer; be powerful  

deliver = נָצַל= nāṣal Blue Letter Bibleto snatch away, deliver, rescue; to be torn out or away; defend; preserve; draw out, pull out

 

Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at:

-     Wisdom Principles--Fortitude

-     Wisdom Principles—God is Supreme Over All Human Power/Plans

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

 

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15-17 

R. (cf. 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me.


R. I will sing of your salvation.
Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rockand my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.


R. I will sing of your salvation.
For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength.


R. I will sing of your salvation.
My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. I will sing of your salvation.

 

salvation = תְּשׁוּעָה= tšûʿâ  Blue Letter Bible   deliverance (usually by God through human agency); salvation (spiritual in sense); rescue; help; safety; victory; welfare

refuge = חָסָה= ḥāsâ Blue Letter Bible  flee for protection; to put trust in (God), confide or hope in (God); to confide in:—have hope, trust

shame = בּוּשׁ= buwsh Blue Letter Bible To be disconcerted, disappointed; confounded; become dry; to fail in hope or expectation; confused; blush

justice=צְדָקָה= ṣḏāqâ  Blue Letter Biblerighteousness; righteousness (as vindicated); justification, salvation; truthfulness; ethically right; rectitude; virtue 

rescue = פָּלַט= pālaṭ  Blue Letter Bible  to escape, save, deliver, slip away; to bring into security, bring to safety; to slip out; slip out; to be smooth, sleek; 

deliver—see above in connection with Reading I

save, safety = יָשַׁע= yāšaʿBlue 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

rock = צוּר= ṣûr  Blue Letter Bible  rock, cliff; a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous); strength

refugeמָעוֹן= māʿôn Blue Letter Bible  dwelling, habitation, refuge, lair

rockסֶלַע= selaʿ Blue Letter Bible  crag, cliff, rock; stronghold of Jehovah, of security (fig.); a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress):—(ragged) rock, stone(-ny), strong hold 

fortress = מָצוּד= māṣûḏ  Blue Letter Bible  fastness, stronghold; peak, mountain castle; capture net, prey

hope = תִּקְוָה= tiqvâ  Blue Letter Bible  expectation, hope; thing that I long for; rope, cord

trust = מִבְטָח= miḇṭāḥ  Blue Letter Bibleconfidence, trust, refuge; act of confiding;state of confidence, security;a refuge; sure and firm hope

depend = סָמַךְ= sāmaḵ  Blue Letter Bible to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon; to support or brace oneself; refresh, revive; bear up, stand fast; to be propped

 

Scriptures addressing God as a refuge are collected atWisdom Principles—God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him

 

Reading II: 1 Corinthians 12:21-13:13
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, 

love is kind.
It is not jealous, 

it is not pompous,
It is not inflated, 

it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, 

it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing, 

but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

strive eagerly = ζηλω = zēloō Blue Letter Bible covet or desire, earnestly;to exert one's self for one; to have a zeal for, to be zealous towards; busy one's self about; to have warmth of feeling for;  moved with jealousy;to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, anger; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexiconesteem or pronounce happy, admire, praise; desire emulously, strive after, affectpay zealous court tovie with, emulatetobe jealous of, envy, to be jealous for

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 

patient = μακροθυμω =makrothymeō  Blue Letter Bibleto be long-tempered; to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart; to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles; to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others; to be mild and slow in avenging; to be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish; forbearing; patiently endure;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon to be long-suffering; persevere; bear patiently 

 

kind = χρηστεομαι = chrēsteuomai  Blue Letter Bible  to show one's self mild, to be kind, use kindness; show oneself useful, i.e. act benevolently;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon to be kind or merciful

 

jealous—see strive eagerly above

 

pompous = περπερεομαι = perpereuomai Blue Letter Bible  to boast or vaunt oneself; vainglorious, braggart;self-display, employing rhetorical embellishments in extolling one's self excessively;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott,A Greek-English Lexicon boast, brag

 

inflated = φυσιω = physio  Blue Letter Bible  to puff up, blow up, inflate; being "puffed" up with pride; to blow up, blow out, to cause to swell up; to bear one's self loftily; haughty;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon puff up 

 

rude = σχημονω = aschēmoneō  Blue Letter Bible  to be unseemly; to act unbecomingly; unseemly; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  behave unseemly, disgrace oneself

seek = ζητω = zeteo Blue Letter Bible to seek after, endeavor; inquire for; require, demand; strive after, endeavor, to desire; metaphorically, to “seek” by thinking, to “seek” how to do something; strive after, desire; to seek (i. e. in order to find out) by thinking, meditating, reasoning; to inquire into; to seek in order to find; to crave, demand something from someone; aim at; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon inquire for; search after, search out; inquire into, investigate, examine; require, demand; desire; feel the want of

quick-tempered = παροξνω = paroxynō  Blue Letter Bible to sharpen, used metaphorically, signifying to rouse to anger, to provoke; to make sharp, sharpen; stirred up; to stimulate, spur on, urge;to irritate, provoke, to scorn, despise;  provoke, make angry; arouse to anger; to exasperate, burn with anger;easily provoke; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon urge, spur on, stimulate; provoke, irritate; grow virulent; make an application stronger, hasten

brood over = λογζομαι = logizomai  Blue Letter Bible to reckon, whether by calculation or imputation;  to deliberate, and so to suppose, account, calculate; take into account consider; esteem; make things the subjects of thoughtful consideration, carefully reflect on; reckon with; think on; despise; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon count, reckon, calculate; set down to one's account, charge; consider 

 

injury = κακς = kakos  Blue Letter Bible evil; amiss; bad in character; base, malignant, destructive, injurious; Grievous, Grievously; harm; miserable; badly ill;noisome; of a bad nature; not such as it ought to be; base, wrong, wicked;troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful; worthless; depraved; wrong, crime; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  ugly, ill born, mean; craven, basebad of his kind, i. e. worthless, sorry, unskilled; wretched; evil, perniciousabusive, foul; unlucky; ill; trouble, pest, nuisance

 

rejoice, rejoices = χαρω = chairō  Blue Letter Bible  to joy, rejoice, be glad; joyfully; be cheerful; to be well, to thrive; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  take pleasure in a thing; express one's joy; be glad; delight in

 

wrongdoing = δικα = adikia Blue Letter Bible  iniquity; unrighteousness;  a condition of not being right; injustice; unrighteousness of heart and life; a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness; wrongfulness; guilt; treachery; unrighteousness by which others are deceived; reward obtained by wrong-doing; the wrong of depriving another of what is his; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexiconwrongdoing, injustice, a foul; wrongful act, offence

 

truth = λθεια = aletheia  Blue Letter Bible  the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter; that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit; sincerity of mind and integrity of character, or a mode of life in harmony with divine truth; veracity; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexiconthe opposite of lie or mere appearance; reality

 

bears = στγω = stegō  Blue Letter Bible  to protect, or preserve by covering, hence means to keep off something which threatens, to bear up against, to hold out against, and so to endure, bear, forbear; supporting what is placed upon a thing; to cover over with silence; to cover with silence (endure patiently); suffer; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   cover closely, so as to keep a fluid either out or in; fend off, repel; bearup, sustain, support; endure, resist; contain oneself, hold out; keep in, hold; shelter, protect, conceal, keep hidden

 

believes = 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; the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul; credit; to have a faith directed unto, believing or in faith to give oneself up to; to commit oneself trustfully;Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon trust, put faith in, rely on; comply; feel confident that a thing is

 

hopes = λπζω = elpizō  Blue Letter Bible trust; hopefully to trust in; to expect or confide; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon look for, expectdeem, suppose that


 endures = πομνω = hypomenō  Blue Letter Bibleto abide under; to remain in a place instead of leaving it, to stay behind; to persevere; endurance under what would be burdensome;  to bear up courageously; take it patiently; not recede or flee;  under misfortunes and trials to hold fast; bear bravely and calmly; take patiently; to persevere: absolutely and emphatically, under misfortunes;to cleave faithfully to; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon stay behind, remain, to be permanent; abide or await; stand one's ground, stand firm; endure patiently;submit, bear; suffer

fails = ππτω = piptō  Blue Letter BibleTo fall; losing its authority or ceasing to have force; to reduce to inactivity; to faint; to "fall" down from; to descend from a higher place to a lower; overcome by terror or astonishment; used of suppliants and persons rendering homage or worship to one; to lose authority, no longer have force; to be thrust down; to be cast down from a state of prosperityHenry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  fall down, and (when intentional) cast oneself down; throw oneself down, fall down; sink

Alleluia:Luke 4:18 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sentme to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

bring glad tidings = εαγγελζω = euangelizō Blue Letter Bible to bring, declare, preach, or show good or glad tidings;to bring good news

poor = πτωχς = ptōchos  Blue Letter Bible  one who crouches and cowers; reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms; destitute of wealth, influence, position, honour; lowly, afflicted, destitute; helpless, powerless to accomplish an end; destitute of wealth of learning and intellectual culture; absolute or public mendicancyHenry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English LexiconBeggarly 

poor (the Hebrew from Isaiah 61:1) עָנָוʿānāv  Blue Letter Bible poor, humble, afflicted, meek; lowly; miserable

proclaim = κηρσσω = kēryssō  Blue Letter Bible to be a herald, or, in general, to proclaim, publish;to proclaim after the manner of a herald; always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed; proclaim openly: something which has been done; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  to be a herald, officiate as herald; to be an auctioneer; make proclamation; summon; extoll; call upon, invoke; announce; advertise; invite; declare, tell, crow

proclaim(Hebrew, from Isaiah 60:1) =קָרָא= qārā'  Blue Letter Bible to 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 

liberty= φεσις = aphesis Blue Letter Bible  release, from bondage, imprisonment, etc.; liberation from captivity; dismissal, release; remission; pardon of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty; forgiveness, pardon, of sins (properly, the letting them go, as if they had not been committed); Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon letting go, release; quittance from; discharge from

 

liberty (from the Hebrew in Isaiah 61:1) = דְּרוֹר= drôr Blue Letter Bible flowing, free run, liberty; spontaneity of outflow; a free or abundant flow; freedom 

 

captives = αχμλωτος = aichmalōtos  Blue Letter Bible  one taken by the spear; a prisoner of war;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon taken by the spear, captive, prisoner; prisoner of war

 

Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at:

-      Wisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin

-      Wisdom Principles: God’s Ways Give Security

-      Wisdom Principles: Caring For the Weak & Vulnerable   

 

Gospel: Luke 4:21-30 

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazedat the gracious words that came from his mouth.  They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”

He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

amazed = θαυμζω = thaumazō  Blue Letter Bible  to wonder at, marvel; admire;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon wonder, marvel; honor, admire; say with astonishment


gracious = χρις = charis  Blue Letter Bible  beneficial, beneficent; that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness; good will, loving-kindness, favour; liberality; kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved; favors even upon the ill-deserving; merciful kindness; aid or succor; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  kindness, goodwill, for or towards one; partiality, favour; boon;  Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament that property in a thing which causes it to give joy; the favour and grace and goodness of man to man, to setting forth the favour, grace and goodness of God to man, and thus, of necessity, of the worthy to the unworthy, of the holy to the sinful; it is conferred freely, with no expectation of return, and finding its only motive in the bounty and free-heartedness of the giver

 

fury = θυμς = thymos  Blue Letter Bible hot anger, wrath, fierceness; wrath, passion; angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again; glow, ardour, the wine of passion, inflaming wine (which either drives the drinker mad or kills him with its strength); indignation which has arisen gradually and become more settled

 

Scriptures addressing anger are collected at Wisdom Principles—Dealing with Anger


What these readings tell us about God/His ways

Before I formedyou in the womb I knew you

before you were born I dedicated you

I appointed you

it is I this day who have made you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land: against Judah’s kings and princes, against its priests and people

They will fight against you but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

your salvation.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me

incline your ear to me

save me

your salvation
my rock of refuge

a stronghold to give me safety

you are my rock and my fortress.

your salvation
you are my hope

my trust, O God, from my youth
On you I dependfrom birth

from my mother’s womb you are my strength.

your salvation
your salvation.
you have taught me from my youth

your wondrous deeds.
your salvation

Love is patient,

love is kind
It is not jealous

it is not pompous
It is not inflated

it is not rude
it does not seek its own interests
it is not 
quick-tempered

it does not brood over injury
it does not 
rejoice over wrongdoing

but rejoices with the truth
It 
bears all thingsbelieves all thingshopes all thingsendures all things
Love never fails

we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away

At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face

At present I know partially; then I shall know fully

faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The Lord sentme

bring glad tidings to the poor

proclaim liberty to captives.

the gracious words that came from his mouth

no prophet is accepted in his own native place

But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away

What these readings tell us to do:

girdyour loins

stand up and tell them all that I command you

Be not crushed 

sing of your salvation
In you, O LORD, I take refuge

sing of your salvation
O my God, rescue me

sing of your salvation
you are my hope

my trust, O God
On you I depend

you are my strength

sing of your salvation
declare your justice

proclaim your wondrous deeds
sing of your salvation
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts

have love

have love

have love

patient

kind

rejoice[] with the truth.
bear[] all things

believe[] all things

hope[] all things

endure[] all things
put aside childish things

bring glad tidings to the poor

proclaim liberty to captives

What these readings tell us not to do:

[be] jealous

[be] inflated

[be] rude
seek its own interests
[be] quick-tempered

brood over injury
rejoice over wrongdoing

filled with fury

drove him out of the town

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