Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 23, 2023
First Reading: 1 Maccabees 2.15-29
This reading is not available in the NIV version. Visit the CPDV version to view the reading.
Psalm 50
1The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.2From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.3Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.4He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:5"Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."6And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge. Selah7"Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.8I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.9I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,10for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.11I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.12If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.13Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?14Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,15and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."16But to the wicked, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?17You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.18When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.19You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.20You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother's son.21These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.22"Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:23He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."
Gospel: Luke 19.41-44
41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it42and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes.43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on courage, fidelity, and the recognition of God’s presence in our lives. The first reading from 1 Maccabees tells the story of Mattathias, a Jewish priest who refuses to comply with King Antiochus’ decree to sacrifice to idols. Faced with the king’s emissaries, Mattathias boldly defends his faith, even to the point of violence, slaying the Jew who was about to offer sacrifice on the altar. His actions are not merely an act of defiance but a profound expression of his commitment to the law of God. Mattathias’ courage inspires others to join him in the wilderness, where they continue to resist the king’s oppression. This passage reminds us that our faith is worth fighting for, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
The Gospel reading from Luke presents a very different yet complementary scene. As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, he weeps over the city, lamenting its failure to recognize “the time of your visitation.” Jesus’ tears express his deep sorrow for the people who have missed the opportunity to embrace the peace and salvation he offers. His words are a prophetic warning, foreseeing the destruction that will come upon the city because of its blindness. This passage challenges us to examine our own lives: are we attentive to God’s presence and the ways He seeks to draw us closer to Himself? Like Jerusalem, we risk missing the blessings of God’s visitation if we fail to recognize His presence in our midst.
Both readings, though separated by centuries, share a common theme: the call to fidelity and discernment. Mattathias’ courage to stand firm in his faith, even in the face of persecution, is mirrored in Jesus’ sorrow over Jerusalem’s lack of recognition. These stories remind us that living a life of faith requires both boldness and humility. We are called to stand firm in our commitment to God, even when it is challenging, and to remain attentive to His presence in our lives. May we, like Mattathias, have the courage to uphold our faith, and may we, like Jesus, weep with compassion for those who do not recognize the gift of God’s love. Let us strive to live with hearts open to God’s visitation, that we may embrace the peace and salvation He offers.