Sunday Bible Readings Feast of the Holy Family December 30 2007 with Traditional Catholic Commentary

These are for 2007 – Last year. CLICK HERE for 2008.

December 30 2007 Sunday Bible Readings

Feast of the Holy Family!

About the sources used.

The readings on this site are not official for the Mass of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, but are from sources free from copyright. They are here to present the comparable readings alongside traditional Catholic commentary as published in the Haydock Bible.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/123007.shtml – Note. The Official Liturgical readings may not match the current NAB you may have.

Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14 (Ecclesiasticus)
Douay-Rheims Challoner
These are not a perfect match. I came as close as I could.

2 Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved.
3 For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children.
4 He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days.
5 And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure.
6 He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.
7 He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.
14 Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life;
15 And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the father shall not be forgotten.
16 For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother.
17 And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins shall melt away as the ice in the fair warm weather.

Psalm 127 LXX/Latin or 128 Hebrew
Douay-Rheims Challoner. Text Only
A gradual canticle.

Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands:
blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house.
Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
May the Lord bless thee out of Sion:
and mayst thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
And mayst thou see thy children’s children, peace upon Israel.

Colossians 3:12-21
Haydock New Testament

12 Put ye on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benighnity, humility, modesty, patience: 13 Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any of you have a complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also.

14 But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection: 15 And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom, teaching, and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. 17 All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter towards them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Gospel According to Saint Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
Haydock NT

13 And when they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying:

Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt, and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.

14 Who, rising up, took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: 15 And he was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: “Out of Egypt have I called my son.”

19 But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt. 20 Saying:

Rise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead who sought the life of the child.

21 Who, rising up, took the child, and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod, his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep, he retired in the parts of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled, what was said by the prophets: “That he shall be called a Nazarene.”

Haydock Commentary Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14

• Ver. 3. Seeking. Greek, “and hath confirmed the judgment,” &c. H.—God will revenge any disrespect shewn to parents. M.
• Ver. 7. Father. Greek, “Lord … mother (8.) and will serve them,” &c. H.—Though you may feed your parents, you are still much in their debt. S. Amb. in Lk 2 & 18. Ex 20:12, Job 4:3.
• Ver. 12. Thee. Boast not of thy superior talents, nor say any thing disrespectful.
• Ver. 13. A father. Greek, “mother.” Alexander was ashamed of having Philip for his father, pretending that he was the son of Jupiter Ammon. His mother Olympias, with much ingenuity, wrote to him, that he would thus make Juno her powerful rival!

Haydock Commentary Colossians 3:12-21

• Ver. 14. Above all these things have charity, the love of God, and of your neighbour, which is the bond of perfection, the end of all virtues, which unites the hearts of all to God. Wi.
• Ver. 15. The peace of Christ rejoice: reign, conquer, bear away the prize. Wi.
• Ver. 16. Employ yourselves in studying and reading the Scriptures; meditate on what our Saviour has done and suffered for you. It is a calumny of our enemies, that we forbid the reading of the Testament. But the Church, fearing lest the faithful should read to their own destruction what was ordained for their salvation, wisely ordains that they should have recouse to their pastors, and the Latin Vulgate, which has receieved the sanction of the holy Catholic Church, and at the same time forbids them those which might corrupt their faith. In this she acts the part of a good and provident mother, conducting her children to the rich and salutary pastures of peace and plenty, and carefully guarding them from others where tempting but noxious weeds luxuriantly grow up, watered with the baneful streams of polluted and poisoned sources. If pure be the streams from the fountain, As purely the river will flow; If noxious the stream from the mountain, It poisons the valley below.
• Ver. 17. Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let all be done for his honour and glory. See 1 Cor. x. 31. Wi.

Haydock Commentary Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

• Ver. 14. It is very probable that Joseph, with Jesus and his Mother, remained in some part of Egypt, where the Jews were settled, as at Alexandria. That many Jews dwelt in Egypt, particularly from the time of the prophet Jeremy, is evident from Josephus, and also from the first chapter of the second book of Maccabees. Mention is also made of them in Acts. 2 and Acts 6. under the name of Alexandrians.
• Ver. 15. Out of Egypt have I called my son. S. Jerome understands these words to be taken out of the prophet Osee (Hosea) (C. 11:2) and granted they might be literally spoken of the people of Israel: yet as their captivity in Egypt was a figure of the slavery of sin, under which all mandkind groanced, and as their delivery by Moses was a figure of man’s redemption by our Saviour Christ, so these words in a mystical and spiritual sense apply to our Saviour, who in a more proper sense was the Son of God, than was the people of Israel. Wi.—The application of this passage of the prophet to Christ, whereas in the simple letter it might appear otherwise, teaches us how to interpret the Old Testament; and that the principal sense is of Christ and his Church.
• Ver. 23. He shall be called a Nazarite, or a Nazarene. Jesus was called a Nazarite, from the place where he was bred up in Galilee; and the Christians by the Jews were sometimes called Nazarenes, from Jesus of Nazareth. The evangelist would shew that this name, which the Jews though contempt gave to Christ and his disciples, had an honourable signification: and that this title was given in the predictions of the prophets to the Messiah. But where, or in what prophet? For we find not the words exactly in any of the prophets. To this S. Chrysostom answers, that S. Matthew took it from some prophetical writings that have been lost. S. Jerome gives two other answers: first, that the word Nazarene, from the Hebrew Nezer, signifies separated, and distinguished from others by virtue and sanctity: and so some that were particularly consecrated, and devoted to the service of God, were called Nazareans, as Jo-eph, (Deut. xxxiii. 16) Sampson, Judges xvi. 17. &c. Thus a Nazarene signifies one that is holy: and all the prophets, says S. Jerome, foretold that Christ should be holy. Therefore also it was that Matthew did not cite any one prophet, but the prophets in general. The second answer is, that a Nazarean (If derived from the Hebrew Netser) signifies a flower, or bud; and so in the prophet Isaiah, (c. xi. v. 1,) it is foretold of the Messiah, that a flower shall ascend from the root of David. Wi.—The reason why Jesus is called of Nazareth, and not of Bethlehem, is, because he was educated there, and was generally supposed to have been born there. Hence he was called the Galilean; and the people argued from that circumstance, that he was not the Messiah, nor even a prophet, saying, Can the Christ come from Galilee? Search the Scriptures, and see that out of Galilee a prophet riseth not. John 7:52. Again, in Nazareth the word was made flesh, though in Bethlehem he was produced to the world; and our Lord gives himself the same title, when he addressed Saul. I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. Acts 22. He remained at Nazareth till he was about 30 years of age. A.

Daily Bible Readings With Traditional Catholic Commentary December 21 2007 Friday 3rd Week of Advent

December 21 2007 Friday 3rd Week of Advent

About the sources used. The readings on this site are not official for the Mass of Roman Rite of the Catholic Church in the USA, but are from sources free from copyright. They are here to present the comparable readings alongside traditional Catholic commentary as published in the Haydock Bible. Readings vary depending on your national calendar.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/122107.shtml – Note. The Official Liturgical readings may not match the current NAB you may have.

Enjoy…

Song of Solomon 2:8-14
Douay-Rheims Challoner text
8 The voice of my beloved,
behold he cometh leaping upon the mountains,
skipping over the hills.
9 My beloved is like a roe,
or a young hart.
Behold he standeth behind our wall,
looking through the windows,
looking through the lattices.
10 Behold my beloved speaketh to me:
Arise, make haste, my love, my dove,
my beautiful one, and come.
11 For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers have appeared in our land,
the time of pruning is come:
the voice of the turtle is heard in our land:
13 The fig tree hath put forth her green figs:
the vines in flower yield their sweet smell.
Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come:
14 My dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the hollow places of the wall,
shew me thy face,
let thy voice sound in my ears:
for thy voice is sweet,
and thy face comely.

Or

Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Douay-Rheims Challoner
Not a perfect match to the NAB so I included all of 18

14 Give praise, O daughter of Sion: shout, O Israel:
be glad, and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15 The Lord hath taken away thy judgment,
he hath turned away thy enemies:
the king of Israel, the Lord, is in the midst of thee,
thou shalt fear evil no more.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not:
 to Sion: Let not thy hands be weakened.
17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty,
he will save: he will rejoice over thee with gladness,
he will be silent in his love, he will be joyful over thee in praise.
18 The triflers that were departed from the law,
I will gather together, because they were of thee:
that thou mayest no more suffer reproach for them.

Psalm 32:2-3, 11-12, 20-21 (Psalm 33 Hebrew/NAB/KJV)
DR Challoner. Text only

2 Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise.
11 But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector.
21 For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted.

Luke 1:39-45
Haydock New Testament

39 And Mary rising up in those days, went into the mountainous country with haste, into a city of Juda: 40 And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb: and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said:

Bless art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And when is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to the by the Lord.

Haydock Commentary Songs 2:8-14

• Ver. 8. The. Feeling the protection of Christ, the Church preacheth boldly the truth against pagans and heretics. W.—She knows the voice of the shepherd, (Jo. viii. 47. & x. 2) and keeps at a distance the wolves in sheep’s clothing, or pretended reformers, who would scatter the flock.—Hills. She sees him returning in the evening with the utmost speed of a stag, as the Heb. implies. C. ii. 9. and viii. 14.
• Ver. 9. Hart, (Prov. v. 18) which is swifter than the dogs. Xenoph. Cuneg.—This animal is said to destroy serpents, as Christ did the power of the devil. Theod.—Wall. Under the old law, Christ was only seen in figure. He manifested himself in the new. Yet our sins separate him from us. Is. lix. 2. He is concealed in the sacred mysteries, (C.) and his humanity keeps from our sight the glory of his divinity, which alone can impart full content. S. Ambrose. S. Bernard. He shewed a glimpse of it at his transfiguration, and by his miracles. M.
• Ver. 10. Arise. He sings under the window, to v. 16.—My dove, is taken from the Sept. C.—Christ invites his spouse to approach, though he shews not himself as yet; and orders his pastors to root out heresies. v. 25. W.—She is ever faithful, and rejoices in him. 2 Cor. 11:2. Mt 9:15 Eph 5:26 C.
• Ver. 11. Winter. The rigour and darkness of the old law give place to that of light and love. Orig.—After persecution had ceased, pruning became more necessary. C.—The Israelites and the world were redeemed in spring, and the ceremonies of the law were abolished at the same season. M.
• Ver. 12. Pruning. Prot “singings of birds” H.—But the former version is better. Sept. Sym. &c.—Turtle. Which returns in spring. Is. viii. 9. C.—It denotes the preaching of the gospel, (S. Cyr. ador.15) or rather the sighs of a holy soul in exile.
• Ver. 14. Rock. Wild pigeons retire thither. Varro, iii. 7. C.—Holy souls seek protection in the wounds of their Saviour. S. Greg. S. Bern. ser. lxi.—Wall. In the holy Scriptures, which defend the Church. She is brought to light for the edification of all. M

 

Haydock Commentary Zephaniah 3:14-18

• Ver. 15. Judgment, or “condemnation.” Sept. “iniquities,” (C.) nailing the cross the handwriting that was against thee. H.—God does not treat thee with rigour. He will be thy king. The Jews had no king for a long time. But the true Israel, of whom the prophet speaks, is continually ruled and fed by Jesus Christ, who imparts his graces abundantly. C.
• Ver. 17. Silent; constant. M.—He will accuse thee no more. Can this be understood of the Jews, who have been cast off till the fulness of the Gentiles enter the Church? To the latter all this must be applied. Few prophets inveighed against the crimes of the captives after their return. C.—But this must be deemed a punishment, unless the crimes were also removed. H.
• Ver. 18. Triflers. Lit. “trifles;” nugas. Heb. nugi, (H.) which is almost Latin. S. Jer.—These vain nothings, (C.) men who were of light dispositions, scoffers at Christ, shall be converted and honour him. W.—Sept. 17. “he will renew thee in his love, and will exult over thee in joy, as on a festival day: (18) and I will bring back thy bruised ones. Wo to him that has reproached her.” Aquila likewise renders by wo, or eju, oh, oi, using it as an exclamation, though not of sorrow. Yet the term signifies, they were. S. Jerome. H.—Hebrew lit. “I have gathered those who were in grief for a time. They were of thee. Shame was upon them like a heavy load;” or, “they were grieved on account of the festivals disused. They were like an offering rejected,” with disgrace. C.—They lamented that they could no longer observe the solemn festivals, and this was to the pious a most intolerable burden, while libertines seem to feel as great a misery in the observance.

 

Haydock Commentary Luke 1:39-45

• Ver. 39. This city is generally supposed to be Hebron, a sacerdotal town, (Jos. xxi. 11.) situated in the mountains, to the south of Juda, and about 120 miles from Nazareth. V.
• Ver. 41.  The infant leaped in her womb. According to the general opinion of the interpreters, this motion of the child at this time was not natural: and some think that God gave to S. John, even in his mother’s womb, a passing knowledge of the presence of his Redeemer. See S. Aug. in the above cited letter to Dardanus. Wi.
• Ver. 42.  In the same words she is pronounced blessed by Elizabeth, and by the angel Gabriel, both inspired by the Holy Ghost, and this not only to the praise of Jesus, but for his sake, to the praise of Mary, calling her blessed, and her fruit blessed; and thus, as Ven. Bede asserts, holding her up to the veneration of both men and angels.
• Ver. 43.  The mother of my Lord. A proof that Christ was truly God, and the blessed Virgin Mary truly the mother of God. Wi.—Elizabeth was a just and blessed woman; yet the excellency of the mother of God does so far surpass that of Elizabeth, and of every other woman, as the great luminary outshines the smaller stars. S. Jerome præf. in Sophon.