Daily Readings - Mon Nov 17 2025

¹⁰And they all put diadems on themselves after his death, and their sons after them, for many years; and evils were multiplied on the earth¹¹And there went forth from among them a sinful root, Antiochus the illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome. And he reigned in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks¹²In those days, there went forth from Israel sons of iniquity, and they persuaded many, saying: "Let us go and negotiate a covenant with the Gentiles that are all around us. For since we have withdrawn from them, many evils have found us.¹³And the word seemed good in their eyes¹⁴And some of the people determined to do this, and they went to the king. And he gave them the power to act according to the justice of the Gentiles¹⁵And they built a sports arena in Jerusalem, according to the laws of the Nations⁴¹Her sanctuary was desolate, like a place of solitude, her feast days were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into disgrace, her honors into nothing⁴²Her shame was multiplied according to her glory, and her loftiness was turned into lamentation⁴³And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people must be one, and that each one should relinquish his own law⁵⁴And these ordered the cities of Judah to sacrifice⁵⁵And many from the people, who had abandoned the law of the Lord, were gathered together by them. And they committed evils upon the land⁵⁶And they drove the people of Israel into hiding and into the secret places of fugitives⁵⁷On the fifteenth day of the month of Kislev, in the one hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation on the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all the surrounding cities of Judah⁶²And on the twenty-fifth day of the month, they sacrificed on that altar which was opposite the high altar⁶³And the women who circumcised their sons were butchered, according to the order of king Antiochus⁶⁴And they suspended the children by their necks in all their houses, and those who had circumcised them, they butchered

Luke

Chapter 18

³⁵Now it happened that, as he was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way, begging³⁶And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this was³⁷And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by³⁸And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!³⁹And those who were passing by rebuked him, so that he would be silent. Yet truly, he cried out all the more, "Son of David, take pity on me!⁴⁰Then Jesus, standing still, ordered him to be brought to him. And when he had drawn near, he questioned him⁴¹saying, "What do you want, that I might do for you?" So he said, "Lord, that I may see.⁴²And Jesus said to him: "Look around. Your faith has saved you.⁴³And immediately he saw. And he followed him, magnifying God. And all the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God

Sermon

The first reading from 1 Maccabees paints a vivid picture of a time of great trial for the Jewish people. It describes how the Temple in Jerusalem was desecrated by King Antiochus IV, who erected a statue of Zeus in the holy place, an act of profound sacrilege. This event, known as the "abomination of desolation," was a direct attack on the Jewish faith and way of life. Many Jews were forced to abandon their traditions, and those who remained faithful suffered greatly. This reading reminds us of the enduring struggle between faith and oppression, and how even in the darkest moments, God remains with His people. The Gospel reading from Luke tells the story of a blind man who cries out to Jesus for healing as He passes through Jericho. Despite being rebuked by the crowd, the man persists in his plea, and Jesus, moved by his faith, restores his sight. This miracle is not just a physical healing but a spiritual one as well. The blind man’s unwavering faith and refusal to be silenced serve as a powerful example of trust in God’s providence. Just as the blind man’s persistence led to his healing, our own perseverance in prayer and faith can lead to spiritual renewal and deeper union with God. Both readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and perseverance. In the face of oppression and suffering, the Jewish people in 1 Maccabees clung to their faith, even when it meant facing severe consequences. Similarly, the blind man in the Gospel refused to be deterred by those who dismissed his plea. These stories challenge us to remain steadfast in our own faith, even when we encounter obstacles or setbacks. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God’s plan for us, even when the path is unclear? Do we have the courage to stand firm in our beliefs, even when the world around us seems hostile? May we draw strength from these examples, knowing that God is always near, ready to heal and restore us.