A At the proper time I will gather you together.
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you
and turned away your enemies;
the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
the LORD will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
the LORD will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.
I will remove disaster from among you,
so that none may recount your disgrace.
Yes, at that time I will deal
with all who oppress you:
I will save the lame,
and assemble the outcasts;
I will give them praise and renown
in all the earth, when I bring about their restoration.
At that time I will bring you home,
and at that time I will gather you;
for I will give you renown and praise,
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I bring about your restoration
before your very eyes, says the LORD.
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Commentary on Zep 3:14-20
The Prophet Zephaniah begins this passage with an exaltation of praise to God. His invitation sounds in the present tense, but then he says: “On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem,” which places the event, the rejoicing over the Lord God being in their midst, in the future. In effect, this is a prediction of events to come. Zephaniah also includes the effects of God’s presence as he continues: “a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love.”
We hear the expectation of the Messiah: “The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst.” In this case the effects of the Messiah on the people are the focus. The prophet proclaims a renewal of God's loving adoption and the joy felt by the Father at his favorite creation.
The theme of reunion, "restoration" is driven home as is salvation promised to the those who are helpless (the lame and the outcasts; those presumed to have been punished because of sins). The prophecy promises these poor ones a place of prominence in God's kingdom. Above all, God promises to re-unite his people and establish their place in the world.
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B There is one mediator between God and Humanity,
Christ Jesus, himself human.
There is one God.
B There is one mediator between God and Humanity,
Christ Jesus, himself human.
There is one God.
There is also one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as ransom for all.
This was the testimony at the proper time.
For this I was appointed preacher and Apostle
(I am speaking the truth, I am not lying),
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,
lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.
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Commentary on 1 Tm 2:5-8
St. Paul instructs Timothy and his followers on the communal prayers of the Church. He reminds Timothy that there is only one God and only one who stands as both God and man as mediator - Jesus Christ. His intentions make it clear that he came to bring the Gentiles the good news and that there should be unity in Christ.
The final verse is an instruction on the posture of communal prayer “every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.”
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. (see 10c) Lord, gather your scattered people.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
R. Lord, gather your scattered people.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen.
R. Lord, gather your scattered people.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
I will lavish choice portions upon the priests,
and my people shall be filled with my blessings.
R. Lord, gather your scattered people.
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Commentary on Jer 31:10, 11-12ab, 13-14
The song from Jeremiah recalls the Diaspora, the exile of the Hebrews. In these strophes, the prophet sees the salvific work of God who shepherds his people as they return from exile in the “New Exodus,” and the reunification of the people. He prophesies their return to the land from which they had been driven, giving praise to God for his mercy. God will provide sustenance and blessing upon his faithful as they return.
CCC: Jer 31 1611
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GOSPEL
May they be completely one.
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:
"Holy Father, I pray not only for these,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them."
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Commentary on Jn 17:20-26
Here is the final part of the “High Priestly Prayer” from the Lord’s final discourse. In this selection we are joined with the disciples as Jesus prays: “also for those who will believe in me through their word.” Again the theme of unity between the Father, the Son, and his followers is emphasized and brought to a conclusion with: “that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
CCC: Jn 17 2604, 2746, 2758; Jn 17:21-23 260, 877; Jn 17:21 820; Jn 17:22 690; Jn 17:23-26 2750; Jn 17:24 2749, 2750, 2750; Jn 17:25 2751; Jn 17:26 589, 729, 2750
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