Reading 1 1 Mc 2:15-29
The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy
came to the city of Modein to organize the sacrifices.
Many of Israel joined them,
but Mattathias and his sons gathered in a group apart.
Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias:
"You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city,
supported by sons and kin.
Come now, be the first to obey the king's command,
as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah
and those who are left in Jerusalem have done.
Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King's Friends,
and shall be enriched with silver and gold and many gifts."
But Mattathias answered in a loud voice:
"Although all the Gentiles in the king's realm obey him,
so that each forsakes the religion of his fathers
and consents to the king's orders,
yet I and my sons and my kin
will keep to the covenant of our fathers.
God forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments.
We will not obey the words of the king
nor depart from our religion in the slightest degree."
As he finished saying these words,
a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all
to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein
according to the king's order.
When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal;
his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused;
he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar.
At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king
who was forcing them to sacrifice,
and he tore down the altar.
Thus he showed his zeal for the law,
just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu.
Then Mattathias went through the city shouting,
"Let everyone who is zealous for the law
and who stands by the covenant follow after me!"
Thereupon he fled to the mountains with his sons,
leaving behind in the city all their possessions.
Many who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom
went out into the desert to settle there.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15
R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High;
Then call upon me in time of distress;
I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Gospel Lk 19:41-44
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
"If this day you only knew what makes for peace?
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."
Meditation: 1 Maccabees 2:15-29
Mattathias and his sons gathered in a group apart.” (1 Maccabees 2:16)
To say that Mattathias lived in difficult times is an understatement. In 168 b.c., after having conquered Israel, the Seleucid king Antiochus forbade the practice of the Jewish religion. Everything that the people held sacred was defiled: The Temple sanctuary was desecrated, the holy scrolls were burned, and the sabbath observance and practice of circumcision were prohibited. Tragically, some Jews were willing to go along with these prohibitions and join in the pagan sacrifices.
But when the king’s officers came to enforce these laws, Mattathias and his sons stood apart. Refusing to comply, they began a rebellion that led to the restoration of the Jewish faith.
As Christians, it’s important at times that we also stand apart from trends in our culture, difficult though that may be. And if it’s difficult for us, it’s even harder for young people. How do we encourage our children and grandchildren to be strong when the situation calls for it?
The best thing we can do is set a good example. We earn our children’s respect when they see that we base our decisions on God’s commands — especially his command to love. It’s also important that we nurture close relationships with our children. If they know that we really do care about their well-being, they will be more willing to trust us when we try to steer them away from destructive behaviors, even when they see their peers doing these things.
In addition, we need to be continually communicating with our young people. We need to find ways to tell them about our love for God and our desire to follow his authority in our lives. And just as important, we need to listen attentively to them, respecting them and staying open to what they have to say. Finally, like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, we should always be ready to forgive them with open arms.
As our children experience God’s mercy and love through us, they will grow strong in their own faith. And that’s the best way to help them stand apart and stand up for the principles that they —and the Lord —hold dear.
“Father, help me to please only you. Strengthen me to stand apart when necessary, and to encourage my children to do the same.”
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