FIRST READING: 1 Maccabees 2: 15 - 29
15
And they that were sent from king Antiochus came thither, to compel
them that were fled into the city of Modin, to sacrifice, and to burn
incense, and to depart from the law of God.
16
And many of the people of Israel consented, and came to them: but
Mathathias and his sons stood firm.
17
And they that were sent from Antiochus, answering, said to
Mathathias: Thou art a ruler, and an honourable, and great man in
this city, and adorned with sons, and brethren.
18
Therefore come thou first, and obey the king's commandment, as all
nations have done, and the men of Juda, and they that remain in
Jerusalem: and thou, and thy sons, shall be in the number of the
king's friends, and enriched with gold, and silver, and many
presents.
19
Then Mathathias answered, and said with a loud voice: Although all
nations obey king Antiochus, so as to depart every man from the
service of the law of his fathers, and consent to his commandments:
20
I and my sons, and my brethren will obey the law of our fathers.
21
God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for us to forsake the
law, and the justices of God:
22
We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus, neither will we
sacrifice, and transgress the commandments of our law, to go another
way.
23
Now as he left off speaking these words, there came a certain Jew in
the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the city
of Modin, according to the king's commandment.
24
And Mathathias saw and was grieved, and his reins trembled, and his
wrath was kindled according to the judgment of the law, and running
upon him he slew him upon the altar:
25
Moreover the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them to
sacrifice, he slew at the same time, and pulled down the altar.
26
And shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri the son of
Salomi.
27
And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: Every
one that hath zeal for the law, and maintaineth the testament, let
him follow me.
28
So he, and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that they
had in the city.
29
Then many that sought after judgment, and justice, went down into the
desert.
1
The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and he hath called the earth.
From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof:
2
Out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty.
5
Gather ye together his saints to him: who set his covenant before
sacrifices.
6
And the heavens shall declare his justice: for God is judge.
14
Offer to God the sacrifice of praise: and pay thy vows to the most
High.
15
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou
shalt glorify me.
41
And when he drew near, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying:
42
If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that
are to thy peace; but now they are hidden from thy eyes.
43
For the days shall come upon thee, and thy enemies shall cast a
trench about thee, and compass thee round, and straiten thee on every
side,
44
And beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee:
and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou
hast not known the time of thy visitation.
