Saturday, September 24, 2022

Readings for September 25, 2022, annotated, Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Lectionary 138

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.  It is provided beneath the specific reading the words are in. 

 

Collections of or meditations on scriptures dealing principles similar to those addressed in particular readings are hyperlinked after those readings.

 

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 1: Amos 6:1a, 4-7   

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:
Woe to the complacent in Zion! 

***

Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall!

Improvising to the music of the harp, like David, they devise their own accompaniment.

They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph! 

Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.

 

complacent = שַׁאֲנָן = ša'ănān  Blue Letter Bible  at ease, quiet, secure; careless, wanton, arrogant; security, pride; haughty; tranquil

 

lying = שָׁכַב = šāḵaḇ  Blue Letter Bible to lie down; rest, relax; sleep; prostrate; pour out  

 

stretched comfortably = סָרַח = sāraḥ  Blue Letter Bible  to go free, be unrestrained, be overrun, exceed, overhang, grow luxuriously; to extend (even to excess); exceeding; redundant; pouring out

 

wanton revelry—see “stretched comfortably” above


 

Scriptures addressing similar matters are collected or considered at:

 

Wisdom Principles--Diligence & Working

 

Wisdom Principles--Stay focused on God & what He has given you to do; Don’t Be Distracted by Other Things

 

Wisdom Principles--Rely on God, not Material Power or Wealth    

 

What we can learn from our okra: we are blessed so we can yield blessings

 

***

 

 

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10  

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
Blessed is he who keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.

R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just; the LORD protects strangers.

R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!

 

praise = הָלַל = halal  Blue Letter Bible   to shine; to flash forth light; to praise, boast, be boastful; be commended; glory; rave, celebrate; to be clear, to be brilliant; to sing; to make bright or shining

 

soul = נֶפֶשׁ = nep̄eš  Blue Letter Bible  soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion; the inner being of man; seat of the appetites; seat of emotions and passions; the mode of feeling/acting, understanding and the faculty of thinking

 

Blessed = אֶשֶׁר = 'ešer Blue Letter Bible   happiness, blessedness

 

keeps = שָׁמַר = šāmar  Blue Letter Bible  to keep, guard, observe, give heed; retain, treasure up (in memory); preserve; attend to

 

faith = אֱמֶת = 'ĕmeṯ  Blue Letter Bible  firmness, faithfulness, truth; sureness, reliability; stability, continuance; certainty, truth, trustworthiness; perpetuity; fidelity

 

forever = עוֹלָם = ôlām  Blue Letter Bible  long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient; forever, always; perpetuity; continuous existence, perpetual; everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity; time out of mind (past or future); always; unending

 

secures = עָשָׂה = ʿāśâ  Blue Letter Bible  to do, fashion, accomplish, make; work, make, produce; to deal (with); to act, act with effect, effect; to attend to, put in order; to observe, celebrate; accomplish, advance; follow, fulfill; be industrious, labor; yield; produce by labor

 

justice = מִשְׁפָּט = mišpāṭ  Blue Letter Bible  justice, right, rectitude; judgment, justice, ordinance; proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan; process, procedure, litigation; sentence, decision; execution; decision; verdict; sentence or formal decree; determination


oppressed = עָשַׁק = ʿāšaq  Blue Letter Bible   to press upon, oppress, violate, defraud, do violence, get deceitfully, wrong, extort, exploit, deceive

 

gives = נָתַן = nāṯan  Blue Letter Bible to 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

 

food = לֶחֶם = leḥem  Blue Letter Bible  bread, food, grain; loaf, meat, victuals

 

hungry = רָעֵב = rāʿēḇ  Blue Letter Bible  hunger bitten, hungry, failing of strength, stricken with hunger 

 

sets [] free = נָתַר = nāṯar  Blue Letter Bible   to loose, let loose, undo, be free, be loose; to unfasten, loosen; to set free, unbind; shake, spring up; shake off, untie; drive asunder, leap; undo; jump; tremble, palpitate

 

captives = אָסַר = 'āsar  Blue Letter Bible   to tie, bind, imprison; harness; to be imprisoned, bound; to be taken prisoner; to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense; bind, fast, gird, harness, hold, keep; order; put in bonds

 

gives sight = פָּקַח = pāqaḥ  Blue Letter Bible   to open (the eyes); to open (the senses, especially the eyes); to be observant; restore sight; to enable to see things otherwise hidden; 

 

blind = עִוֵּר = ʿiûēr  Blue Letter Bible   blind (literally or figuratively); he helpless, groping; the dull, unreceptive; ignorant

 

raises = זָקַף = zāqap̄ Blue Letter Bible Comfort; raise (up)

 

just = צַדִּיק = ṣadîq Blue Letter Bible  lawful, righteous; righteous (in government); righteous (in conduct and character); righteous (as justified and vindicated by God); honest, virtuous, pious

 

protects—see “keeps” above

 

strangers = גָּר = gār  Blue Letter Bible  sojourner; a temporary inhabitant; a newcomer lacking rights; foreigners; alien; guest; a person living outside of his native country; temporary dweller, new-comer

 

sustains = עוּד = ʿûḏ   Blue Letter Bible   to restore, relieve;  to bear witness, testify, say again and again; to protest, affirm solemnly, warn, exhort or enjoin solemnly, admonish, charge; to return, repeat, go about, do again; to surround, go round and round; to encompass, restore; lift up

 

thwarts = עָוַת = ʿāvaṯ  Blue Letter Bible  to be bent, be crooked, bend, make crooked, pervert; subvert; to bend, make crooked; falsifying; overthrow

 

wicked = רָשָׁע = rāšāʿ  Blue Letter Bible  guilty one, one guilty of crime; hostile to God; against God or man; morally wrong; ungodly; unrighteous 

 

reign = מָלַךְ = mālaḵ Blue Letter Bible  to be or become king or queen; to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; to be king; to counsel, advise

 

generations = דּוֹר = dôr Blue Letter Bible   period, age, generation (period of time); generation (those living during a period); generation (characterized by quality, condition, class of men); dwelling-place, habitation; a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; circuit of the years of life; forever and ever; including both past and future 

 

 

Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at:

 

Wisdom Principles--Caring for the weak & vulnerable

 

Wisdom Principles--We must strive for fair justice, to maintain the rule of law for all

 

Wisdom Principles--Ill Gotten Gains Do Not Last

 

Wisdom Principles--Don't Discriminate Against Foreigners 

 

***

 

 

Reading 2: 1 Timothy 6:11-16

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. 

Compete well for the faith. 

Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.

I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. 

To him be honor and eternal power.  Amen.

 

pursue = δικω = diōkō. Blue Letter Bible  Follow, follow after; to pursue without hostility; to put to flight, persecute; seek eagerly; to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after; to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal; to run after, follow after: someone; to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon cause to run, set in quick motion; chase; seek after; drive, drive on; urge, impel; prosecute

 

righteousness = δικαιοσνη = dikaiosynē  Blue Letter Bible integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting; the character or quality of being right or just; it was formerly spelled "rightwiseness"; faithfulness, or truthfulness; the sum total of the requirements of God;  right action; state of him who is as he ought to be; the condition acceptable to God; virtue which gives each his due; a state approved of God; manifests itself in beneficenceHenry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon Justice, fulfillment of the Law 

 

devotion = εσβεια = eusebeia  Blue Letter Bible  piety characterized by a Godward attitude; reverence, respect; piety towards God, godliness; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   reverence towards the gods or parents, piety or filial respect; loyalty

 

faith = πστις = pistis  Blue Letter Bible  firm persuasion, a conviction; trust; an assurance; trust and holy fervor; a strong and welcome conviction; belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence); the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things; a power that seizes upon the soul; fidelity, faithfulness; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  Trust; persuasion of a thing, confidence, assurance; credit 

 

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

 

patience = πομον = hypomone  Blue Letter Bible patience; remaining under; steadfastness, constancy, endurance; the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  remaining behind; endurance, power to sustain, endure; enduring to do

 

gentleness = πρατης = praotēs Blue Letter Bible  a meek disposition, meekness; gentleness, mildness, meekness; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   mildness, gentleness

 

compete  γωνζομαι = agōnizomai  Blue Letter Bible  to contend in the public games; laboring fervently; to fight, engage in conflict; to contend with adversaries; to contend  perseveringly against opposition and temptation; struggle with difficulties and dangers; to endeavour with strenuous zeal; strive to obtain something; labor fervently;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   contend for a prize; fight; struggle, exert oneself; fight a cause to the last; contend in court

AND

γν = agōn  Blue Letter Bible  contest for a prize any struggle or contest; a battle; intense solicitude, anxiety; a place of assembly: especially an assembly met to see games; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   struggle, battle; action at law; place of contest

 

Faith—see above 

 

Lay hold = πιλαμβνομαι = epilambanomai  Blue Letter Bible catch; lay hold; take by the hand; take possession of; overtake; attain, attain to;  to seize anything with the hands; metaph. to rescue one from peril, to help, succour;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   take or get besides; take, receive; lay hold of, seize, attack; overtake, surprise; attain to, come within reach of, reach; seize, stop, esp. by pressure; occupy space, get over much ground, traverse it rapidly; undertake; assist; succeed, follow; hold oneself on by, lay hold of; attack; make a seizure of, arrest;  lay hold of, get, obtain; having found an empty field, i.e. an absence of all competitors;  attempt; undertake; touch on; take up, interrupt in speaking, 

 

keep = τηρω =tēreō Blue Letter Bible to guard; to watch over, keep, give heed to, observe; hold fast; to attend to carefully, take care of; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon watch over, take care of, guard; maintain; take care that; give heed to, watch narrowly, observe; notice; test by observation or trial; preserve, retain


 

Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at:

 

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

 

Wisdom Principles--Stay focused on God & what He has given you to do; Don’t Be Distracted by Other Things

 

Wisdom Principles--We Receive Great Blessings If We Seriously Study God’s Ways and Put Them into Practice  

 

Wisdom Principles--Rely on God, not Material Power or Wealth

 

***

 

 

Alleluia: Cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9   

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Lord = κριος = kyrios  Blue Letter Bible  variously translated in the NT, "'Lord,' 'master,' 'Master,' 'owner,' 'Sir;' one who has the disposal of anything; one to whom service is due on any ground; one who exercises power; he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; the sovereign, prince, chief; a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence; supreme in authority; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  supreme power, authority; one invested with authority

 

rich = πλοσιος = plousios  Blue Letter Bible  wealthy, abounding in material resources; metaph. abounding, abundantly supplied; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  wealthy, opulent; ample, abundant 

 

became poor = πτωχεω = ptōcheuō  Blue Letter Bible  to be poor as a beggar; to be destitute;  to become indigent; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   to be a beggar, go begging; to be as poor as a beggar; to be badly off

 

poverty = πτωχεα = ptōcheia  Blue Letter Bible  destitution; beggary; indigence; extreme poverty;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   beggary, mendicity  

 

rich = πλουτω = plouteō  Blue Letter Bible  to be rich, to have abundance, wealthy;to be richly supplied; affluent in resources so that he can give blessings; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon to be rich, wealthy; to be rich in a thing 

 

***

 

 

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31   

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. 

 

And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. 

The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.'

Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' 

 

He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.'

But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'

He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

 

rich = πλοσιος = plousios  Blue Letter Bible  wealthy, abounding in material resources; metaph. abounding, abundantly supplied; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  wealthy, opulent; ample, abundant 

 

dined = εφρανω = euphrainō Blue Letter Bible  to cheer, gladden, to rejoice, make merry, faring sumptuously; to be happy, be delighted with a thing; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon , cheer, gladden, make merry, enjoy oneself, rejoice, enjoy a pleasure 

 

sumptuously = λαμπρς = lamprōs  Blue Letter Bible  splendidly, magnificently; of sumptuous living; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   bright, radiant; clear, distinct; of vigorous action; without concealment; of persons, well-known, illustrious by deeds, station, etc; magnificent, munificent; bright, joyous; splendid, brilliant

 

poor  man= 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 Lexicon Beggarly

 

received = πολαμβνω = apolambanō    Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   take or receive from another; receive what is one's due; accept when tendered; take of, take a part of a thing; take away; hear, learn; regain, recover; have rendered to one; demand an account; take apart or aside; cut off, intercept

 

good = γαθς = agathos  Blue Letter Bible  useful, salutary; good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; excellent, distinguished; upright, honourable; excelling in any respect, distinguished; corresponds to the figurative expression 'good ground', and denotes a soul inclined to goodness, and accordingly eager to learn saving truth and ready to bear the fruits; due to divine efficiency; benevolent, kind, generous; what is salutary, suited to the course of human affairs;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  brave, valiant; good, capable; serviceable; blessing, benefit

 

bad = 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

 

comforted = παρακαλω = parakaleō Blue Letter Bible  Beseech; denotes "to call to one's side," hence, "to call to one's aid;" exhort, urge; summon; to beg, entreat; call for; pray; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon call in, send for, summon; invoke; call upon; demand, require

 

tormented = δυνω = odynaō  Blue Letter Bible   to suffer pain, be in anguish, be greatly distressed; sorrowing; to cause pain; to cause intense pain; to be in anguish, be tormented; to torment or distress one's self; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   cause one pain or suffering; feel pain, suffer pain

 

great = μγας = megas  Blue Letter Bible  high, mighty; eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power; things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance; things to be esteemed highly for their importance; a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent; splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately; God's preeminent blessings; strong; large; used of intensity and its degrees; distinguished; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  mighty; strong; of great importance; impressive; big; full grown; vast, high; very much, exceedingly

 

chasm = χσμα = chasma  Blue Letter Bible   a great pit; a yawning abyss; precipice with a deep pit; a gaping opening; a gulf; a great interval;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   yawning chasm, gulf; open, gaping mouth; generally, any wide opening 

 

listen to = κοω = akouō  Blue Letter Bible  harkin to; to attend to, consider what is or has been said; to understand, perceive the sense of what is said; to give ear to a teaching or a teacher; to comprehend; to perceive anyone's voice; to yield to, hear and obey; have regard to; to perceive the distinct words of a voice; to yield obedience to the voice; to perceive in the soul;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  hearken, give ear; listen to; obeyhear and understand

 

persuaded = πεθω = peithō  Blue Letter Bible   yielded to; assure; to have confidence, trust; to suffer oneself to be persuaded; to have confidence, to be confident; influence; win over; bringing about a change of mind; to induce one by words to believe; to tranquillise; move or induce one to do something; to have faith in a thing; to believe; to convince; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   persuade; prevail upon; won over; obey; believe, trust


 

Scriptures addressing similar things are collected or considered at:

 

What we can learn from our okra: we are blessed so we can yield blessings

 

Wisdom Principles--Stay focused on God & what He has given you to do; Don’t Be Distracted by Other Things

 

Wisdom Principles--Diligence & Working

 

Wisdom Principles--Rely on God, not Material Power or Wealth    

 

Wisdom Principles--Caring for the Weak & Vulnerable

 

Wisdom Principles--It is Human Nature to Treat the Poor Poorly (but that doesn't make it right)   

 

***

 

 

What these readings tell us about God’s nature or our relationship to Him.

keeps faith forever

secures justice for the oppressed

gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
The LORD gives sight to the blind

the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves 
the just

the LORD protects strangers.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains

the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever

through all generations

God, who gives life to all things

Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession

our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler

the King of kings and Lord of lords

who dwells in unapproachable light

To him be honor and eternal power

Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich

When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham

between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'

 

 

What these readings tell us to do:

Praise the Lord [from you] soul
keep[] faith forever

Secure[]  justice for the oppressed

Give[] food to the hungry.
set[] captives free.
Praise the Lord [from you] soul
raise[] up those who were bowed down.
the just

Protect[] strangers.
Praise the Lord [from you] soul
The fatherless and the widow [] sustain[]

the way of the wicked [] thwart[]

Praise the Lord [from you] soul
pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness
Compete well for the faith
Lay hold of eternal life

keep the commandment without stain or reproach

They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them
repent
listen to Moses and the prophets

Be persuaded

 

What these readings tell us not to do:

[be] complacent

Stretch[] comfortably 

wanton revelry

dress[] in purple garments and fine linen and dine[] sumptuously each day