November
19, 2015
Thursday
of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Saint
of the Day: Saint Nerses the Great
Reading
1
15The
officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy came
to the city of Modein to organize the sacrifices. 16Many
of Israel joined them, but
Mattathias and his sons gathered in a group apart.
17Then
the officers of the king addressed Mattathias: “You
are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city, supported
by sons and kin. 18Come
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,[1] and
shall be enriched with silver and gold and many gifts.”[2]
19But
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, 20yet
I and my sons and my kin will
keep to the covenant of our fathers.
21God
forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments. 22We
will not obey the words of the king nor
depart from our religion in the slightest degree.”
23As
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. 24When
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. 25At
the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king who
was forcing them to sacrifice, and
he tore down the altar. 26Thus
he showed his zeal for the law, just
as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu.
27Then
Mattathias went through the city shouting, “Let
everyone who is zealous for the law and
who stands by the covenant follow after me!” 28
he fled to the mountains with his sons, leaving
behind in the city all their possessions.
29Many
who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom
went
out into the desert to settle there.[3]
Responsorial
Psalm
R.
(23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
1God
the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth, from
the rising of the sun to its setting. 2From
Zion, perfect in beauty, God
shines forth.
R.
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
5“Gather
my faithful ones before me, those
who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” 6And
the heavens proclaim his justice; for
God Himself is the judge.
R.
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
14“Offer
to God praise as your sacrifice and
fulfill your vows to the Most High;
15Then
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.
Alleluia
PS 95:8
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
If
today you hear his voice,
harden
not your hearts.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
41As
Jesus drew near Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,[4] 42saying,
“If
this day you only knew what makes for peace – but now it is hidden from your
eyes.
43For
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.[5] 44They 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.”
[2] 1
Maccabees 2:18 - The King's Friends: a regular order of nobility at Hellenistic
courts. The various grades are frequently mentioned in this book:
[3] 1
Maccabees 2:29 - The desert: the sparsely inhabited mountain country southward
from Jerusalem and west of the Dead Sea. It was an arid region with some
perennial springs and a fair amount of rain in winter.
[4] Luke
19:41-44 - The lament for Jerusalem is found only in Luke. By not accepting Jesus
(the one who mediates peace), Jerusalem will not find peace but will become the
victim of devastation.
[5] Luke1:43-44 - Luke may be describing the actual disaster that befell Jerusalem in A.D. 70
when it was destroyed by the Romans during the First Revolt.
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Dear Humanity,
I personally encourage everyone to emulate JESUS' values on LOVE, FAITH, HOPE
and CHARITY, as the humanity has been a failure; which resulted to the more than two (2) years of pandemic and its after-effects on economy, not only here in the Philippines but worldwide.
And the saddest part of it, is that, it affected the POOREST of the POOR to even extremely be more poorer, in exchange of the affluent to be more richer.
Thank you and may GOD bless you and the whole family to have an enjoyed life's journey at home, Church, schools/universities, corporate commitments, public and places of interest.