Daily Readings

Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, a man of advanced age and noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork. But preferring a glorious death to a life 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 a noble 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 make such a pretense; many young people would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion. Should I thus pretend for the sake of a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age. Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, and I will leave to the young a noble 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 I could have escaped death, I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging, but also suffering it with joy in my soul because of my devotion to him." This is how he died, leaving in his death a model of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue not only for the young but for the whole nation.

R. (6b) The Lord upholds me.O LORD, how many are my adversaries!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 my shield;my glory, you lift up my head!When I call out to the LORD,he answers me from his holy mountain.R. The Lord upholds me.When I lie down in sleep,I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.I fear not the myriads of peoplearrayed against me on every side.R. The Lord upholds me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.God loved us, and sent his Sonas expiation for our sins.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.Now a man there named Zacchaeus,who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy 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 a sycamore 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 I must 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 a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,and if I have extorted anything from anyoneI shall repay it four times over.”And Jesus said to him,“Today salvation has come to this housebecause this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seekand to save what was lost.”

[From the descendants of Alexander's officers]there sprang a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes,son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome.He became king in the year one hundred and thirty sevenof the kingdom of the Greeks.In those days there appeared in Israelmen who were breakers of the law,and they seduced many people, saying:"Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us;since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us."The proposal was agreeable;some from among the people promptly went to the king,and he authorized them to introduce the way of livingof the Gentiles.Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalemaccording to the Gentile custom.They covered over the mark of their circumcisionand abandoned the holy covenant;they allied themselves with the Gentilesand sold themselves to wrongdoing.Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,each abandoning his particular customs.All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king,and many children of Israel were in favor of his religion;they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev,in the year one hundred and forty-five,the king erected the horrible abominationupon the altar of burnt offeringsand in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.They also burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt.Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant,and whoever observed the law,was condemned to death by royal decree.But many in Israel were determinedand resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean;they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean foodor to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.Terrible affliction was upon Israel.

R.  (see 88) Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.Indignation seizes me because of the wickedwho forsake your law.R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,your law I have not forgotten.R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.Redeem me from the oppression of men,that I may keep your precepts.R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.I am attacked by malicious persecutorswho are far from your law.R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.Far from sinners is salvation,because they seek not your statutes.R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.I beheld the apostates with loathing,because they kept not to your promise.R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the light of the world, says the Lord;whoever follows me will have the light of life.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

As Jesus approached Jerichoa blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.They told him,"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"The people walking in front rebuked him,telling him to be silent,but he kept calling out all the more,"Son of David, have pity on me!"Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;and when he came near, Jesus asked him,"What do you want me to do for you?"He replied, "Lord, please let me see."Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."He immediately received his sightand followed him, giving glory to God.When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

For the readings of the Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, please go here.For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, please go here.

Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.

R. (cf. 9)  The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,with the harp and melodious song.With trumpets and the sound of the hornsing joyfully before the King, the LORD.R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.Let the sea and what fills it resound,the world and those who dwell in it;let the rivers clap their hands,the mountains shout with them for joy.R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.Before the LORD, for he comes,for he comes to rule the earth,he will rule the world with justiceand the peoples with equity.R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

Reading 2 2 Thes 3:7-12

Brothers and sisters:You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and daywe worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you,we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work,neither should that one eat.We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in adisorderly way,by not keeping busy but minding the business of others. Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Stand erect and raise your headsbecause your redemption is at hand.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

While some people were speaking abouthow the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,Jesus said, "All that you see here--the days will come when there will not be lefta stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."Then they asked him,"Teacher, when will this happen?And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered,"See that you not be deceived,for many will come in my name, saying,'I am he,' and 'The time has come.'Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections,do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them,"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plaguesfrom place to place;and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky."Before all this happens, however,they will seize and persecute you,they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,and they will have you led before kings and governorsbecause of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speakingthat all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name,but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.By your perseverance you will secure your lives."