Daily Readings - Wed Nov 20 2019
2 Maccabees
1And it happened also that seven brothers, united with their mother, were apprehended and compelled by the king to eat the flesh of swine against divine law, being tormented with scourges and whips20Now the mother was wonderful beyond measure, and a worthy memorial of the good, for she watched her seven sons perish within the time of one day, and she bore it with a good soul, because of the hope that she had in God21And, with fortitude, she exhorted every one of them, in the language of the fathers, being filled with wisdom. And, joining masculine courage with feminine thinking22she said to them: "I do not know how you were formed in my womb. For I did not give you spirit, nor soul, nor life; neither did I construct each of your limbs23Nevertheless, the Creator of the world, who formed the nativity of man, and who founded the origins of all, will restore both spirit and life to you again, with his mercy, just as you now despise yourselves for the sake of his laws.24But Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and at the same time also despising the voice of the reproacher, when only the youngest was still left, not only exhorted him with words, but also assured him with an oath, that he would make him wealthy and happy, and, if he would convert from the laws of his fathers, he would have him as a friend, and he would provide him with necessary things25But, when the youth was not swayed by these things, the king called the mother and persuaded her to act toward the youth to save him26And so, when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised that she would counsel her son27Then, leaning towards him and mocking the cruel tyrant, she said in the language of the fathers: "My son, take pity on me, for I carried you for nine months in my womb, and I gave you milk for three years, and I nourished you and led you through to this stage of life28I ask you, child, gaze upon heaven and earth, and all that is in them, and understand that God made them, and the family of man, out of nothing29So shall it be that you will not fear this executioner, but, participating worthily with your brothers, you shall accept death, so that, by this mercy, I shall receive you again with your brothers.30While she was still saying these things, the youth said: "What are you waiting for? I will not obey the precepts of the king, but the precepts of the law, which was given to us through Moses31In truth, you, who have been the inventor of all malice against the Hebrews, will not escape the hand of God
Luke
11As they were listening to these things, continuing on, he spoke a parable, because he was nearing Jerusalem, and because they guessed that the kingdom of God might be manifested without delay12Therefore, he said: "A certain man of nobility traveled to a far away region, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return13And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds, and he said to them: ‘Do business until I return.14But his citizens hated him. And so they sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this one to reign over us.15And it happened that he returned, having received the kingdom. And he ordered the servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called so that he would know how much each one had earned by doing business16Now the first approached, saying: ‘Lord, your one pound has earned ten pounds.17And he said to him: ‘Well done, good servant. Since you have been faithful in a small matter, you will hold authority over ten cities.18And the second came, saying: ‘Lord, your one pound has earned five pounds.19And he said to him, ‘And so, you shall be over five cities.20And another approached, saying: ‘Lord, behold your one pound, which I kept stored in a cloth21For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.22He said to him: ‘By your own mouth, do I judge you, O wicked servant. You knew that I am an austere man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow23And so, why did you not give my money to the bank, so that, upon my return, I might have withdrawn it with interest?24And he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound away from him, and give it to him who has ten pounds.25And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds.26So then, I say to you, that to all who have, it shall be given, and he will have in abundance. And from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him27‘Yet truly, as for those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here, and put them to death before me.’ 28And having said these things, he went ahead, ascending to Jerusalem
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that challenge us to reflect on faith, courage, and the responsible use of the gifts we have been given. The first reading from 2 Maccabees tells the story of a mother and her seven sons who endure immense suffering rather than betray their faith. Despite the brutal torture and death of her children, the mother remains steadfast, trusting in God’s promise of resurrection. Her courage is rooted in her deep faith and her belief that life does not end with death. The second reading, a parable from Luke’s Gospel, shifts our focus to the theme of stewardship. Jesus tells the story of a nobleman who entrusts his servants with resources before departing to claim his kingdom. Upon his return, he holds them accountable for how they used what was given to them. Those who were faithful and fruitful are rewarded, while the one who buried his gift out of fear is condemned.
These readings are connected by the common thread of trust in God and the call to live faithfully in light of that trust. The mother in Maccabees trusts that God will restore life to her sons, and the servants in the parable are called to trust their master’s generosity and use their gifts wisely. Both stories remind us that our lives are not our own, and that we are called to live in a way that reflects our ultimate allegiance to God. The mother’s courage and the parable’s emphasis on accountability invite us to examine how we are using the time, talents, and resources we have been given.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we living with the kind of faith and courage that the mother and the faithful servants exemplify? Are we using the gifts we have been given to build up the Kingdom of God, or are we allowing fear or complacency to hold us back? The mother’s trust in God’s promise of resurrection reminds us that our ultimate hope is not in this life but in the life to come. At the same time, the parable challenges us to be faithful stewards of what we have been given, knowing that one day we will be called to account for how we lived. May we strive to live with courage, trust, and fidelity, using our lives to glorify God and to serve others.