Monday, November 14, 2011 St. Nicholas Tavelic, OFM, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs (Memorial)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
It is never true that we have no time to meditate; the less one thinks of God, the less time there will always be for Him. The time one has for anything depends on how much we value it. Thinking determines the use of time; time does not rule over thinking! The problem of spirituality is never, then, a question of time; it is a problem of thought. For it does not require much time to make us saints; it requires only much love.
 -- Bishop Fulton Sheen

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
(Antiochus Epiphanes and the Renegade Jews)
10 The wicked ruler Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus the Third of Syria, was a descendant of one of Alexander's generals. Antiochus Epiphanes had been a hostage in Rome before he became king of Syria in the year 137. 
11 At that time there appeared in the land of Israel a group of traitorous Jews who had no regard for the Law and who had a bad influence on many of our people. They said, “Let's come to terms with the Gentiles, for our refusal to associate with them has brought us nothing but trouble.”
12 This proposal appealed to many people,

13 and some of them became so enthusiastic about it that they went to the king and received from him permission to follow Gentile customs.
14 They built in Jerusalem a stadium like those in the Greek cities. 
15 They had surgery performed to hide their circumcision, abandoned the holy covenant, started associating with Gentiles, and did all sorts of other evil things. 
41-43 Antiochus now issued a decree that all nations in his empire should abandon their own customs and become one people. All the Gentiles and even many of the Israelites submitted to this decree. They adopted the official pagan religion, offered sacrifices to idols, and no longer observed the Sabbath. 
54 On the fifteenth day of the month of Kislev in the year 145, King Antiochus set up “The Awful Horror” on the altar of the Temple, and pagan altars were built in the towns throughout Judea.
55 Pagan sacrifices were offered in front of houses and in the streets.
56 Any books of the Law which were found were torn up and burned,
57 and anyone who was caught with a copy of the sacred books or who obeyed the Law was put to death by order of the king. 
62 But many people in Israel firmly resisted the king's decree and refused to eat food that was ritually unclean.
63 They preferred to die rather than break the holy covenant and eat unclean food—and many did die. 
Psalms: Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158
53 When I see the wicked breaking your law, I am filled with anger. 
61 The wicked have laid a trap for me, but I do not forget your law. 
134 Save me from those who oppress me, so that I may obey your commands. 
150 My cruel persecutors are coming closer, people who never keep your law. 
155 The wicked will not be saved, for they do not obey your laws. 
158 When I look at those traitors, I am filled with disgust, because they do not keep your commands. 
Gospel: Luke 18:35-43
(Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar)
35 As Jesus was coming near Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road, begging.
36 When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked, “What is this?”
37 “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.
38 He cried out, “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!”
39 The people in front scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!”
40 So Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Sir,” he answered, “I want to see again.”
42 Jesus said to him, “Then see! Your faith has made you well.”
43 At once he was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving thanks to God. When the crowd saw it, they all praised God.