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| “Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and His Companions, Martyrs” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN |
Alternate readings for this memorial may be taken from the Common of Martyrs
Commentary:
Reading 1: 1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59
Commentary on 1 Mc 4:36-37, 52-59
The war with the Gentiles who were trying to destroy the Hebrew faith and traditions was started by Mattathias. In this passage it is won by his son Judas (who was called Maccabeus). This final victory in Jerusalem required the cleansing and rededication of the Temple . We hear a feast declared toward the end of the passage. That feast is celebrated by the Jewish people today as Hannukah, also called the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22). The ancient historian, Josephus Flavius, calls it the Feast of Lights.
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Responsorial Psalm: 1 Chronicles 29:10bcd, 11abc, 11d-12a, 12bcd
R. (13b) We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
Commentary on 1 Chr 29:10bcd, 11abc, 11d-12a, 12bcd
This great hymn of praise from First Chronicles directs our thoughts toward the power and majesty of God the Father. It rejoices in his omnipotent reign over all the earth. It is called "David's Prayer," and consists of three parts. This selection is the first part which is a solemn praise for God's sovereignty and power.
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Gospel: Luke 19:45-48
Commentary on Lk 19:45-48
Following the lament for Jerusalem, the Lord proceeds directly to the Temple in Jerusalem and there displays his power and zeal for “His Father’s House.” He drives out the vendors who had set up business in the outer precincts so that he would have a purified place to continue his teaching mission.
This episode, also captured in Mark 11:11, 15-19, Matthew 21:10-17, and John 2:13-22 with different emphasis for each, is best understood, according to scholars, in conjunction with the words of the Prophet Malachi (Malachi 3:1-3). “And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek.” Jesus quotes Isaiah 56:7 synthesizing it with Jeremiah 7:11 as in St. Luke’s Gospel. This is done to create an environment of holiness in which his mission of prayer and teaching may continue.
CCC: Lk 9:45 554
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Reflection:
If we follow the news on a daily basis it is easy to see that we are in the midst of a great war that is raging around the world. We might even call it (as the King of Jordan did some time back) World War III. In some parts of the world, the Middle East, Northern India, and to some degree in China , the Christian forces are barely holding on. In some of these regions, specifically Iraq, Syria, and Egypt (not to mention Israel and Palestine) Christians are losing, being driven out or killed. ISIS has tilted many middle-eastern countries toward more radical and less inclusive sects of Islam where persecution of Christians is on the rise. In other places we seem to be making inroads – Africa most notably (although Islamic forces are also pushing in there). In all areas of the world, the battle for the souls of mankind is being fiercely waged. The enemies are various, wearing different uniforms, some with no uniforms at all; call them insurgents who blend in and claim to be on “our side,” Jesus’ side.
When we look at this war from 10,000 feet as it is described above we can feel the relevance of the reading from Maccabees in which the Temple is finally re-taken and Judas (ironic as that name might seem) fulfills the wishes of his father Mattathias by reestablishing the Law of Moses and re-consecrating the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem.
In a smaller but more important skirmish, the Gospel of St. Luke describes Jesus’ entry into that same temple, driving out those who would commercialize the sacrifices of the people and profit by the Law of Moses. (We recognize that in doing this, the Lord is gaining the enmity of the Sanhedrin who sold the franchises to those vendors.)
These two examples demonstrate that this war that is being fought is epic in the span of time, continuing through the millennia. It actually started at the beginning of history, when St. Michael won the first battle casting Lucifer out of heaven. The human race lost the second major battle as Adam and Eve were deceived and failed their own test, being thrown out of paradise and allowing death to enter the world.
Here is the surprise that should be no surprise. We are all drafted into the army of God which is fighting this war. We are in the trenches, willingly or not. We are either pushing back the forces that would destroy us or we are sitting passively by waiting for the battle to find us. Even now, there are those who ask us to surrender, to give our parol (using the archaic understanding – in an earlier age, when a combatant surrendered he would give his word of honor not to resist further) and go over to the enemy.
The question (prayer) we must answer (offer) today is whose side are we on and what will we do in this conflict that rages? The great weapon we have is Christ’s love. We must pick up this weapon and use it as both shield and sword, striking the enemies of Jesus where we find them. It was out of love for the Father that he cleansed the Temple; it must be out of love that we cleanse our hearts and offer his love to those we meet.
Pax
[1] The picture is “Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and His Companions, Martyrs” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
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