Daily Readings - Tue Nov 18 2025
2 Maccabees
18And so, Eleazar, one of the chief scribes, a man advanced in years and of stately countenance, was compelled to open his mouth wide to consume the flesh of swine19Yet he, embracing a most glorious death as greater than a detestable life, went forward voluntarily to the torments20And so, thinking over the manner by which he ought to approach it, enduring patiently, he was determined not to permit, due to a love for life, any unlawful things21Yet those who stood near, being moved by an iniquitous pity because of long friendship with the man, taking him aside privately, asked that flesh be brought which was lawful for him to eat, so that he could pretend to have eaten, just as the king had commanded, from the flesh of the sacrifice22So then, by doing this, he might be freed from death. And it was because of their old friendship with the man that they performed this kindness for him23But he began to consider the eminent dignity of his stage of life and old age, and the natural honor of gray hair, as well as his exemplary words and deeds from childhood. And he responded quickly, according also to the ordinances of the sacred law preserved by God, saying, that he would first be sent to the underworld24"For it is not worthy for those of our age," he said, "to deceive, so that many adolescents might think that Eleazar, at ninety years, had converted to the life of the foreigners25And so, they, because of my pretense and for the sake of a brief time of a corruptible life, would be misled, and, through this stain and desecration, I would defile my last years26But if, in the present time, I were rescued from the torments of men, I would then not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither in life, nor in death27For this reason, by departing life with fortitude, I will show myself to be clearly worthy of my long life28And so, I will bequeath an example of fortitude to youths, if, with a ready soul and constancy, I carry out an honest death, for the sake of the most serious and most holy laws." And having said this, he was immediately dragged away to execution29But those who led him, and who were more mild a little before, were turned to anger because of the words spoken by him, which they considered to have been brought forth by way of arrogance30But when he was ready to perish by the scourges, he groaned, and he said: "O Lord, who holds all holy knowledge, you clearly understand that, although I could be freed from death, I suffer grievous pains in body. Truly, according to the soul, I willingly endure these things, because of your fear.31And the way in which this man passed from this life, bequeathed, not only to youths, but also to the entire people, the memory of his death as an example of virtue and fortitude
Luke
1And having entered, he walked through Jericho2And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. And he was the leader of the tax collectors, and he was wealthy3And he sought to see Jesus, to see who he was. But he was unable to do so, because of the crowd, for he was small in stature4And running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree, so that he might see him. For he was to pass near there5And when he had arrived at the place, Jesus looked up and saw him, and he said to him: "Zacchaeus, hurry down. For today, I should lodge in your house.6And hurrying, he came down, and he received him joyfully7And when they all saw this, they murmured, saying that he had turned aside to a sinful man8But Zacchaeus, standing still, said to the Lord: "Behold, Lord, one half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone in any matter, I will repay him fourfold.9Jesus said to him: "Today, salvation has come to this house; because of this, he too is a son of Abraham10For the Son of man has come to seek and to save what had been lost.
Sermon
The first reading from 2 Maccabees tells the story of Eleazar, a devout Jewish scribe who refused to compromise his faith even in the face of death. When ordered to eat pork, which was forbidden by Jewish law, Eleazar chose to endure brutal torture rather than betray his beliefs. His courage and integrity inspired others, especially the young, to remain faithful to God’s laws. Eleazar’s example reminds us that true faith requires us to stand firm, even when it is difficult or costly. His willingness to suffer rather than abandon his principles is a powerful testament to the importance of living a life of integrity and conviction.
The Gospel reading from Luke presents a very different kind of heroism in the story of Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who was shunned by society because of his profession. Despite his sinfulness, Zacchaeus sought Jesus out, climbing a tree to catch a glimpse of him. When Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus’s home, the tax collector responded with repentance and generosity, promising to give half of his possessions to the poor and to make amends for any wrongdoing. Jesus’ response, “Today salvation has come to this house,” highlights the transformative power of encountering God. Zacchaeus’s story teaches us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy and that true conversion leads to a change of heart and actions.
Both readings remind us that living a life of faith requires both courage and humility. Eleazar’s unwavering commitment to his beliefs and Zacchaeus’s willingness to change his ways show us that faith is not just about what we believe but how we live. In our daily lives, we are called to stand firm in our convictions, even when it is challenging, and to be open to conversion, allowing God to transform our hearts and actions. Let us strive to live with the integrity of Eleazar and the humility of Zacchaeus, trusting that God’s grace will guide us on our journey of faith.