First Reading: 1 Macabees 2:15-29
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.”
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: Psalm 50:1B-2, 5-6, 14-15
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: Luke 19:41-44
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.”
When I was younger I envied those who had mega conversion stories. Things were one way, and now they’re not. They were bad, but now they’re good.
It seemed so simple, and I was naive, because the Christian walk is not always so black and white. Now that I am older I can see the millions of little conversions that have happened in my life. I see my need for a God who wants me to respond to Him on a daily basis and who gives me the opportunity to return to Him again and again.
Jerusalem. His beloved city. God incarnate had walked the streets there. His voice preached. His hands healed. His command raised the dead.
When He looked at the city as He marched into it, He cried true and sorrowful tears. He had called to Jerusalem, but she did not hear. She witnessed miracles, and still she did not believe. He saw the destruction that would come to her because of her hardened heart.
It makes me shudder to think of all the times I have looked away from Jesus speaking to me, healing me and raising me from my spiritual deadness.
How many times throughout a single day have I allowed my heart to be hardened?
How many times throughout a single day have I allowed my heart to be hardened?Click to tweet
Sister, join in praying for conversion. Pray for your own conversion today, as small as it might seem. Wake up your sleepy souls and see that our Messiah is doing good work here.
Jacqueline Skemp is a daughter, sister, wife and mother who endures living in Minnesota after leaving California for her one true love. You can find out more about her here.
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