Daily Readings - Thu Nov 18 2021
1 Maccabees
15And those who had been sent from king Antiochus came to that place, to compel those who fled into the city of Modin to immolate, and to burn frankincense, and to depart from the law of God16And many of the people of Israel consented and came to them. But Mattathias and his sons stood firm17And those who had been sent from Antiochus, responding, said to Mattathias: "You are a ruler, and very splendid and great in this city, and you are adorned with sons and brothers18Therefore, approach first, and carryout the order of the king, as all the nations have done, and the men of Judah, and those who remained in Jerusalem. And you and your sons will be among the friends of the king, and enriched with gold and silver and many gifts.19And Mattathias responded, and he said with a loud voice: "Even if all nations obey king Antiochus, so that each one departs from the service of the law of his fathers and consents to his commandments20I and my sons and my brothers will obey the law of our fathers21May God be forgiving to us. It is not useful for us to abandon the law and the justices of God22We will not listen to the words of king Antiochus, nor will we sacrifice, transgressing the commandments of our law, so as to set out on another way.23And, as he ceased speaking these words, a certain Jew approached in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the city of Modin, according to the order of the king24And Mattathias saw, and he grieved, and his temperament trembled, and his fury was enkindled according to the judgment of the law, and leaping up, he slaughtered him on the altar25Moreover, the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them to immolate, he killed at the same time, and he destroyed the altar26and he was zealous for the law, just as Phinehas did to Zimri, the son of Salomi27And Mattathias exclaimed with a loud voice in the city, saying, "All who hold zeal for the law, maintaining the covenant, let them follow me.28And he and his sons fled to the mountains, and they left behind whatever they had in the city29Then many who sought judgment and justice went down into the desert
Luke
41And when he drew near, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying42"If only you had known, indeed even in this your day, which things are for your peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes43For the days will overtake you. And your enemies will encircle you with a valley. And they will surround you and hem you in on every side44And they will knock you down to the ground, with your sons who are in you. And they will not leave stone upon stone within you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on fidelity to God’s will and the consequences of failing to recognize His presence in our lives. The first reading from 1 Maccabees tells the story of Mattathias, a Jewish leader who refused to compromise his faith when faced with the oppressive decrees of King Antiochus. Despite the king’s demands to abandon the law of God and sacrifice to idols, Mattathias stood firm, even to the point of killing a Jew who was about to comply with the king’s orders. His courageous act of zeal for the law inspired others to join him in resistance, and together they fled to the mountains to preserve their faith. This passage reminds us of the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of overwhelming opposition.
In the Gospel, we hear Jesus weeping over Jerusalem as He prophesies the city’s destruction. Jesus laments that the people failed to recognize “the time of your visitation,” the moment when God’s peace could have been theirs. Instead, their blindness to God’s presence leads to their downfall. This passage challenges us to examine our own relationship with God, asking whether we are attentive to His presence in our lives and whether we are living in accordance with His will.
Both readings call us to fidelity and discernment. Mattathias’ courage in the face of persecution reminds us that our faith must be lived boldly, even when it is difficult. Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem, on the other hand, warns us of the consequences of failing to recognize and respond to God’s presence in our lives. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are we standing firm in our commitment to God’s law? Are we attentive to the ways in which God is present to us, calling us to deeper faith and conversion? May we, like Mattathias, have the courage to stand up for what is right, and may we, like Jesus, weep with compassion for those who do not see. Let us strive to live with hearts open to God’s will, that we might not miss the time of our visitation.