This is the first time Personal Notes reflect a second time over scriptures already seen. My intention is to build upon the previous Notes without including those Notes, unless requested. Up until this point, I wrote these Notes primarily for myself, relatively unconcerned about their length or internal coherence.
The New Hope Community web site, http://www.hopeonline.cc, recommends two
Bibles, at Groups, Soul Journ: The New Living Translation and English
Standard Version, neither of which have I been using. Should
What holds Epiphany together is revelation to the Gentiles, namely the non-Jewish Faithful. Epiphany is an opening of the Word of God to the peoples of the world, unabashedly, without self-centered self-righteousness, but with genuine concern to return everything back to the right order of the original creation.
Isaiah 60:1-6
verse 2 See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples.
The Vulgate (circa 410): populos
Douay-Rheims (1582-1610): people
New American (1970): peoples
New Jerusalem (1985): peoples
Peoples are the Faithful over whom the LORD now shines.
verse 3a Nations shall walk by your light
The Vulgate (circa 410): gentes
Douay-Rheims (1582-1610): Gentiles
New American (1970): nations
New Jerusalem (1985): nations
Gentiles is more specific about the present Faithful.
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11,
12-13
This royal Psalm may date from between the first and second exile, mid-way between 721 and 587 B.C.[1] Letting the power of the Almighty be known to the Faithful was never meant to be only an interior matter of the heart. The Psalmist promises that everyone shall know that God rules.
The Lectionary uses this passage in the following places:
Lectionary
4A 19-20 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (cf. 7) Second Sunday of Advent A.
20
verse 2a he shall govern your people with justice
The Vulgate (circa 410): populum
Douay-Rheims (1582-1610): people (Psalm 71)
There is disagreement over the exact numbering of the Psalms.
New American (1970): people
New Jerusalem (1985): people
The Responsorial makes the point nicely, “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” Reaching out to every nation suits the evangelical purpose of Christianity.
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
verse 5a It was not made known to people in other generations
The Vulgate (circa 410): quod aliis generationibus non innotuit filiis hominum
Douay-Rheims (1582-1610): in other generations to the sons of men
men
New American (1970): to human beings in other generations
This translation is a rare difference from the Lectionary.
New Jerusalem (1985): to humanity in previous generations
Not only are the Faithful receiving the Word, but they are also bound to evangelize with the Word.
verse 6 that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and
copartners in the promise in
verse 4 Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
he
inquired of them where the
The Vulgate (circa 410): populi
Douay-Rheims (1582-1610): people
New American (1970): people
New Jerusalem (1985): people
Secular authorities, such as
verse 6 And
you,
are
by no means least among the rulers of
since from you shall come a ruler,
who
is to shepherd my people
The Vulgate (circa 410): reget
Douay-Rheims (1582-1610): rule
New American (1970): shepherd
New Jerusalem (1985): shepherd
Shepherd carries a kindlier connotation than rule. Evangelists, as part of the Magisterium of the Church teaching the Gospel, do better to shepherd than rule the Faithful.
Epiphany is an opening of the Word of God to the peoples of the world, unabashedly, without self-centered self-righteousness, but with genuine concern to return everything back to the right order of the original creation. The approach is one of a shepherd rather than a ruler; one bringing light to the confusions of life. The Epiphany approach is more than simply the interior life. Epiphany is also an expansion of the interior to the exterior so that all nations may come to know and accept the Gospel.
For more on sources, besides the footnotes, see the Appendix file for changes made this week.
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