Todays Mass Readings Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 498 ------------------------------------------------- Reading 1: 2Maccabbees 6:18-31 ------------------------------------------------- Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, aman of advanced age and noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork. But preferring aglorious death to alife of defilement, he spat out the meat, and went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture, as people ought to do who have the courage to reject the food which it is unlawful to taste even for love of life. Those in charge of that unlawful ritual meal took the man aside privately, because of their long acquaintance with him, and urged him to bring meat of his own providing, such as he could legitimately eat, and to pretend to be eating some of the meat of the sacrifice prescribed by the king; in this way he would escape the death penalty, and be treated kindly because of their old friendship with him. But Eleazar made up his mind in anoble manner, worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age, the merited distinction of his gray hair, and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood; and so he declared that above all he would be loyal to the holy laws given by God. He told them to send him at once to the abode of the dead, explaining: “At our age it would be unbecoming to makesuch apretense; many young people would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion. Should Ithus pretend for the sake of abrief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while Iwould bring shame and dishonor on myold age. Even if, for the time being, Iavoid the punishment of men, Ishall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up mylife now, Iwill prove myself worthy of myold age, and Iwill leave to the young anoble example of how to die willingly and generously for the revered and holy laws.” Eleazar spoke thus, and went immediately to the instrument of torture. Those who shortly before had been kindly disposed, now became hostile toward him because what he had said seemed to them utter madness. When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned and said: “The Lord in his holy knowledge knows full well that, although Icould have escaped death, Iam not only enduring terrible pain in mybody from this scourging, but also suffering it with joy in mysoul because of mydevotion to him.” This is how he died, leaving in his death amodel of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue not only for the young but for the whole nation. ---------------------------------------------------------- Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 ---------------------------------------------------------- R. (6b) The Lord upholds me. O LORD, how many are myadversaries! Many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “There is no salvation for him in God.” R. The Lord upholds me. But you, O LORD, are myshield; myglory, you lift up myhead! When Icall out to the LORD, he answers me from his holy mountain. R. The Lord upholds me. When Ilie down in sleep, Iwake again, for the LORD sustains me. Ifear not the myriads of people arrayed against me on every side. R. The Lord upholds me. ---------------------------------------------------- Gospel: Luke 19:1-10 ---------------------------------------------------- At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now aman there named Zacchaeus, who was achief taxcollector and also awealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed asycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today Imust stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of asinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of mypossessions, Lord, Ishall give to the poor, and if Ihave extorted anything from anyone Ishall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is adescendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 04:29:58 +0000
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