◀ All Reading Plans / Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary) / Psalm 123 (Our eyes look to God); Job 21:1 17-34 (Poor and rich lie down in the dust); 2 John 1-13 (Be on your guard) (New Catholic Bible)

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November 9, 1965

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Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Daily Bible readings that follow the church liturgical year, with thematically matched Old and New Testament readings.

Duration: 1245 days

Psalm 123

Psalm 123^[a]

Prayer in Time of Spiritual Need

¹A song of ascents.

I lift up my eyes to you,
    to you who are enthroned in heaven.^[b]
²Behold, as the eyes of servants^[c]
    are on the hand of their master,
or as the eyes of a maid
    focus on the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes are on the Lord, our God,
    as we wait for him to show us his mercy.
³Show us your mercy, O Lord, show us your mercy,
    for we have suffered more than our share of contempt.^[d]
⁴We have had to suffer far too long
    the insults of the haughty^[e]
    and the contempt of the arrogant.

Footnotes

Psalm 123:1 Upon returning from the Exile, Israel experienced prolonged and harsh humiliations: vexations from nearby nations and from the Persian administration and persecution later on. The pilgrims do not feel the need to recite at length the list of their misfortunes, for these are too well known. The prayer is expressed in a simple attitude: eyes humbly and perseveringly fixed toward the Lord await a sign of hope. Can people be more true before God?
This psalm can serve to show the right attitude we should have toward Christ. John (Jn 10:28f) amply indicates that the inner and outer life of the Church and Christians is sovereignly regulated by the risen Christ together with his Father. Our faith assures us that the almighty hand of Christ will save us when we call for help against our inner and outer enemies. We should keep our eyes fixed continuously on him in the never-ending battle we must wage in this world (see Heb 12:2).
Psalm 123:1 The psalmist indicates the awesome power of God, the Ruler of the universe enthroned in heaven, who “does whatever he pleases” (Ps 115:3), and whose love and wisdom are beyond our calculation (see Ps 36:5; Isa 55:9).
Psalm 123:2 The fate of male or female slaves was entirely in the hands of their masters or mistresses. Their welfare or their woe depended completely on the will of their overseers, whose hands could bestow benefits or punishments. Hence, the psalmist pictures the slaves as keeping their eyes fixed on their masters and mistresses. In like manner, God’s people fix their eyes on their Lord with utter dependence; like servants and a maid, they look to their Master—for acts of kindness and mercy.
For the Lord rules sovereignly. He is on the throne (see Pss 2:4; 11:4; 102:13; 115:3) even when the arrogant assail his people. No matter how exalted this God of Israel may be, he is still the Lord (“Yahweh”), the God who is faithful to the covenant he has made with his people and is ever ready to help them in any adversity.
Psalm 123:3 The psalmist prays for God’s favor (see Pss 6:3; 57:2; 86:3) to right the injustice done to God’s children, who have unjustly endured great contempt (see Ps 119:22) and ridicule (see Ps 44:13; Neh 2:19; 4:1). It is interesting to recall that in the Sermon on the Mount, contempt (“You fool”) ranks as more grievous than anger (see Mt 5:22). Yet, from the Christian point of view, to endure suffering (including contempt) for Christ is a necessity (see Lk 9:23; Col 1:24), as well as an honor (see Acts 5:41), for all his followers as they make their way to glory (see 1 Pet 4:13f).
Psalm 123:4 As is the case in our day, the People of God are mocked by the haughty and the arrogant (see Pss 52:3; 73:2ff), who rely on and seek only themselves, giving little thought to God. Although it is entirely permissible to pray to be delivered from this ridicule, another approach is to accept it in union with the suffering Christ. Even the Old Testament has passages recommending the acceptance of such suffering: “Let him offer his cheek to those who strike him and endure their insults. For the rejection by the Lord will not last forever. Even though he punishes, he will be compassionate in the abundance of his unfailing love. For he does not willingly afflict or cause grief to the children of men” (Lam 3:30-33).

Job 21:1

Job’s Sixth Response^[a]

Chapter 21

The Very Thought of My Plight Fills Me with Horror.^[b] ¹Job then answered with these words:

Job 21:17-34

How Often?^[a]

¹⁷“Yet, how often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished?
    How often does calamity befall them
    as God in his anger uses his retribution to repay them?
¹⁸How often are they like straw blown away by the wind
    or like chaff that the storm carries off?

What Concern Will He Have for His Family?^[b]

¹⁹“According to you, God stores up punishment for a man’s children,
    but the wicked should be the ones punished and requited for their evil.
²⁰Let his own eyes witness the destruction of God
    that his sins have earned,
    and let him quaff the wrath^[c] of the Almighty!
²¹For what concern will he have for his family
    once his allotted number of months has been completed?

All Are Consigned To Lie Down in the Earth

²²“Who can offer wisdom to God
    when God judges those who are on high?
²³One man passes away while enjoying vigorous health,
    blessed with security and contentment;
²⁴his loins are full of vigor
    and his bones are rich in marrow.
²⁵Another dies in bitterness of soul,
    never having tasted happiness.
²⁶Both are consigned to lie down in the earth
    and worms soon cover them.

Have You Never Questioned Travelers?

²⁷“Believe me, I know what your thoughts are,
    as well as the arguments you will use to counter me.
²⁸You will say, ‘Where now is the great lord’s house?
    Where is the tent in which the wicked man dwelled?’
²⁹Have you never questioned travelers?
    Do you ever listen to the evidence they proffer?
³⁰They testify that the wicked man is saved from disaster
    and is rescued before the day of wrath.
³¹“Who will reproach him for his conduct
    and repay him for the evil he has done?
³²When he is carried to the grave,
    a watch is maintained over his tomb.
³³The clods of the valley are sweet to him;^[d]
    the remainder of mankind will follow him,
    and those who preceded him are beyond counting.
³⁴How then can you possibly offer me any comfort
    when your words lack any semblance of truth?”

2 John

Salutation. ¹The Presbyter^[a] to the chosen Lady and to her children whom I love in the truth—and not I alone but also all who know the truth ²because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever. ³Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

The Commandment of Love.^[b] ⁴It was a cause of great joy to me to discover that some of your children have been walking in the truth^[c] just as we have been commanded by the Father. ⁵^[d]But now, Lady, I am making this request of you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment but simply one that we have had from the beginning: let us love one another. ⁶And this is love: when we walk according to his commandments.^[e] This is the commandment that you have heard from the beginning, and you must follow it.

Warning against False Teachers.^[f] ⁷Many deceivers have gone forth into the world, those who refuse to acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Any such person is the Deceiver^[g] and the Antichrist. ⁸Be on your guard that you do not lose what we have worked to accomplish so that you will receive your reward in full.^[h]

⁹Anyone who fails to remain faithful to the teaching of Christ but goes beyond^[i] it does not have God. Only the one who remains faithful to the teaching possesses both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰If anyone comes to you and does not impart this teaching, do not receive him into your house or welcome him.^[j] ¹¹For anyone who welcomes him has a share in his evil deeds.

¹²Conclusion. I have much to write to you, but I do not think it prudent to do so with paper and ink.^[k] Instead, I hope to visit you and to talk with you face to face so that our joy may be complete.

¹³The children of your sister, the chosen one,^[l] send you greetings.

Footnotes

2 John 1:1 Presbyter: i.e., a term (which may also be translated as “elder”) used to designate a leader in the early Church (see notes on Tit 1:5-9 and 1:7). Chosen Lady (or “Sovereign Lady”): reference to one of the Local Churches of the time, which was under the leadership of the Presbyter and was confused by the advent of false teachers among her members.
2 John 1:4 For more details, see 1 Jn 2:3-11; 3:11-14; 4:7-21.
2 John 1:4 Walking in the truth: i.e., leading a specifically Christian way of life (see 1 Jn 1:6f; 2:6, 11; 3 Jn 3).
2 John 1:5 John stresses the truth that words and deeds go together. Love means keeping the commandments of Jesus. And when Christians keep them, they are leading a life of faith.
2 John 1:6 His commandments: see 1 Jn 2:7f; 3:23; 4:21.
2 John 1:7 The false teachers are under the sign of the Antichrist (see 1 Jn 2:18-26; 4:1-3). They want to “go beyond” the teaching of Christ, thus adulterating Christ, the Gospel, and Love. This seems to be the Gnostic teaching attacked in the First Letter of John—that the Son of God did not become flesh (see Jn 1:14) but came upon the man Jesus temporarily at his Baptism and left before the crucifixion (see note on 1 Jn 5:6).
2 John 1:7 Deceiver: another title of the Antichrist or of those associated with him (see 1 Jn 2:18f, 22; 4:2f). Antichrist: see note on 1 Jn 2:18.
2 John 1:8 The author stresses that a future reward awaits those who work faithfully on earth (see Mk 9:41; 10:29f; Lk 19:16-19; Heb 11:26). We: some manuscripts have “you.”
2 John 1:9 Goes beyond: a reference to the Gnostics’ claim that they had advanced far beyond the teaching of the Apostles; they were, in effect, teaching pure speculation as apostolic doctrine (see 2 Tim 2:16; Tit 3:9).
2 John 1:10 The author warns against feeding and housing the false teachers, for that would be sharing in their evil deeds and tantamount to public approval.
2 John 1:12 The Presbyter is well aware that some things are better spoken face to face than written. So he hopes to visit the Church soon. Paper and ink: paper came from papyrus reeds, which were easily acquired. Ink was made by mixing carbon, water, and gum. Our joy: or “your joy.”
2 John 1:13 Your sister, the chosen one: most likely, another local church (perhaps that of Ephesus), which was also under the leadership of the Presbyter. Just as Christians are “brothers [and sisters],” the churches are “sisters.”

New Catholic Bible (NCB)

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Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 123[a]

Prayer in Time of Spiritual Need

Footnotes

Job’s Sixth Response[a]

Chapter 21

Footnotes

How Often?[a]

What Concern Will He Have for His Family?[b]

All Are Consigned To Lie Down in the Earth

Have You Never Questioned Travelers?

Footnotes

Footnotes

Psalm 123^[a]

Job’s Sixth Response^[a]

How Often?^[a]

What Concern Will He Have for His Family?^[b]