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Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Daily Bible readings that follow the church liturgical year, with sequential stories told across multiple weeks.

Duration: 1245 days

Psalm 133

Psalm 133^[a]

The Blessings of Brotherly Accord

¹A song of ascents. Of David.^[b]

How wonderful and delightful it is
    for brothers to live together in unity.^[c]
²It is like fragrant ointment poured on the head,
    running down upon the beard,
running down upon the beard of Aaron,
    and flowing on the collar of his robes.^[d]
³It is like the dew of Hermon
    falling upon the mountains of Zion.^[e]
For there the Lord has bestowed his blessing,
    life forevermore.

Footnotes

Psalm 133:1 The fragrant oil of anointing and the beneficial dew—such images speak for themselves for a Palestinian; for the poet, they evoke the charm of a living community gathered together around the priests and Levites in the holy city on the occasion of a pilgrimage. The holy city (v. 3), the priesthood (v. 2), and the communion of brothers—all is newness of grace at this moment.
This psalm easily finds an appropriate place on our lips to proclaim the advantages of concord among Christians in the bosom of the house of God, the Church. John the apostle reveals the evils of discord. The person who hates another is a murderer and remains in sin and death. Such a person is not loved by God and can receive no gift from him (see 1 Jn 3:15-17). Fraternal love constitutes the sign of true faith and with it the key to all the divine goods (see Mt 22:34-40; Jn 13:34f; 15:12-17). Only this love manifests that we are true children of God, born of him, and at the same time true disciples of Christ (see Jn 13:35; 1 Jn 4:7).
Psalm 133:1 Of David: these words, omitted from some MSS, refer to the reunion of the tribes of Israel at David’s anointing in Hebron (see 2 Sam 5:1ff).
Psalm 133:1 The psalmist pronounces a blessing on those who live together in unity, as, for example, those on pilgrimage who included people from many different walks of life, regions, and tribes, coming together for one purpose—to worship the Lord in Jerusalem.
Psalm 133:2 Brotherly accord is compared with the copious oil running down the head, beard, and robes of the priests who were anointed. Just as the holy oil poured on the priests consecrated them to the Lord’s service, so brotherly unity sanctifies God’s people. Thus, the fellowship of God’s people on earth is an expression of the priesthood of all believers (see Ex 19:6), promised to Israel and renewed for the Church in Christ (see 1 Pet 2:9f).
Psalm 133:3 Dew of Hermon . . . mountains of Zion: because of its height (nearly ten thousand feet above sea level) and the rain, snow, and dew that fell atop it, Mount Hermon was famous for its rich foliage even during the dry summer months (see Ps 89:13; Deut 33:28; Song 5:2; Hos 14:6). Thus, the dew of Mount Hermon would make the mountains of Zion just as fruitful (see Gen 27:28; Hag 1:10; Zec 8:12). The psalmist indicates that no matter how harsh the conditions of the pilgrimage might be, the fellowship of God’s people was refreshing. For there . . . life forevermore: the divine blessing almost personified (see Lev 25:21; Deut 28:8) will procure happiness and salvation (see Pss 28:9; 36:11) in a definitive manner (see Pss 61:5; 73:26; Deut 30:16, 20).

Leviticus 19:9-18

⁹^[a]“When you gather the harvest of your land, do not reap the corners of your field nor gather the gleanings of your harvest. ¹⁰You shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather all the grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord, your God.

¹¹“You are not to steal, nor should you deceive nor lie to one another. ¹²Nor shall you swear a false oath by my name, nor shall you profane my name. I am your God, the Lord.

¹³“You shall not defraud your neighbor, nor shall you rob him. You shall not keep the wages of the person you have hired all night, until the morning. ¹⁴You shall not curse the deaf, nor shall you put a stumbling block before the blind, for you shall fear your God. I am the Lord.

¹⁵“You shall not commit any injustice in judging the poor, nor shall you show partiality to the mighty. You shall judge your neighbor with righteousness. ¹⁶You are not to spread slander among your people, nor shall you act against the life of your neighbor. I am the Lord.

¹⁷“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, nor shall you rebuke your brother in any way, lest you bear sin because of him. ¹⁸You shall not seek vengeance nor bear a grudge against the children of your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.^[b] I am the Lord.

Luke 10:25-28

²⁵The Greatest Commandment.^[a]And behold, a lawyer came forward to test Jesus by asking, “Teacher, what must I do to gain eternal life?” ²⁶Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” ²⁷He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸Jesus then said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.”

New Catholic Bible (NCB)

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Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 133[a]

The Blessings of Brotherly Accord

Footnotes

Footnotes

Footnotes

Psalm 133^[a]