1 Mac 1:10-15,41-43,54-57,62-63

Lk 18:35-43

 

November 16
Monday

33rd Week in Ordinary Time
Margaret of Scotland / Gertrude

 

1st Reading: 1 Mac 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
    From their descendants there came a godless offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, who had been held as hostage in Rome. He became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the Greek era (175‑B.C.).
    It was then that some rebels emerged from Israel, who succeeded in winning over many people. They said, “Let us renew contact with the peoples around us for we had endured many misfortunes since we separated from them.”
    This proposal was well-received and some eagerly went to the king. The king authorized them to adopt the customs of the pagan nations.. With his permission, they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem in the pagan style. And as they wanted to be like the pagans in everything, they made artificial foreskins for themselves and abandoned the Holy Covenant, sinning as they pleased.
    Antiochus issued a decree to his‑whole kingdom. All the peoples of his empire had to renounce their particular customs and become one people. All the pagan nations obeyed and respected the king’s decree, and even in Israel many accepted the imposed cult. They offered sacrifices to idols and no longer respected the Sabbath.
    On the fifteenth day of the month of Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five, Antiochus erected the “abominable idol of the invaders” on the altar of the temple. Pagan altars were built throughout the whole land of Judea; incense was offered at the doors of their houses and in the squares. There wicked men tore up the books of the Law they found and burned them. They killed anyone they caught in possession of the book of the Covenant and who fulfilled the precepts of the Law, as the royal decree had ordered.
    But in spite of all this, many Israelites still remained firm and determined not to eat unclean food. They preferred to die rather than to make themselves unclean with those foods (prohibited by the Law) that violated the Holy Covenant.

 

Gospel: Lk 18:35-43
    When Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road, begging. As he heard the crowd passing by, he inquired what it was, and they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by. Then he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The people in front scolded him, “Be quiet!” but he cried out all the more, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
    Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him, and when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the man said, “Lord, that I may see!” Jesus said, “Receive your sight, your faith has saved you.” At once the blind man was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving praise to God. And all the people who were there also praised God.

REFLECTION
    Those, who have faith and trust in Christ, find that their sufferings have a purpose and that they also have an end. This is not the time to join the ranks of the discouraged, the cowardly and the fainthearted. Now is the time to let the light of our faith shine forth, not for pride's sake, but as a beacon for many of us, who are lost. In this, Christ is our strength and His word is our sword. All suffering has a purpose; not a physical purpose as much as a spiritual purpose, for just as gold is tested in the fire and purified, so also we must pass through our own flames of penance and sacrifice here on earth in order to be cleansed of our sins.
    In today's gospel, Christ says to us: "Your faith has saved you." While those, who do not accept Christ and all His teachings, might ridicule and scorn us Christians, those of us, who realize the treasures that Christ brings to our lives, are filled with hope and are willing to undergo whatever suffering God wills for us. God emphasizes that we must all work together to bring goodness into our world.

 

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158

R. (see 88) Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Indignation seizes me because of the wicked
who forsake your law.
R.        Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,
your law I have not forgotten.
R.        Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Redeem me from the oppression of men,
that I may keep your precepts.
R.        Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I am attacked by malicious persecutors
who are far from your law.
R.        Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Far from sinners is salvation,
because they seek not your statutes.
R.        Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I beheld the apostates with loathing,
because they kept not to your promise.
R.        Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.

Sources:

http://www.bible.claret.org/

http://www.usccb.org/nab/

 

====

Daily WORD via Text*

Mon, 16 Nov 09

DAILY WORD

1 Mac 1:10-15,41-43,54-57,62-63

Lk 18:35-43

Jesus said, Receive your sight, your faith has saved you

source: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/Dailywordviatext/

 

====

Additional Meditation Links

The Word Among Us http://www.wau.org/meditations/current/

To all subscribers,

May I request you to forward the invitation to subscribe to the FREE dailyscripturedigest, below:

===

Get a daily dose of Bible scripture readings straight to your inbox.

This once-daily, short and FREE e-newsletter is perfect for busy people who would like to devote some moments each day reading the bible verses from the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar including daily meditations from Catholic Sources like Word Among Us, Roman Catholic Net and/or Claretian Publishing.

Absolutely free. No request for donation. No spamming.

 

To subscribe, send blank e-mail to:

Dailyscripturedigest-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

You will then receive an email to confirm your request for a FREE subscription to this e-newsletter. Or just send a message to this e-mail dailyscripture333@... and I will facilitate your free subscription. I would like to request your support so that we can spread The Word! Thanks so much!

Visit the site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dailyscripturedigest/