The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, November 19, 2005
Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Maccabees 6:1-13
Psalm 9:2-3, 4 and 6, 16 and 19
Luke 20:27-40

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Even though Antiochus Epiphanes is a pagan king, he is still subject to God's judgment. The remarkable aspect of this reading is that he is forced to acknowledge God's justice in his exile and death. Our reading a few days ago details his sadistic cruelty towards a former friend of his, the ninety-year old Eleazar. Finally, his treatment of the Macchabees proves to be his undoing. In the vindication of God's chosen people with the crushing of this pagan king, we see a foreshadowing of the universal kingship of God's Son, Jesus, whose feast we will celebrate tomorrow. All kingdoms shall eventually submit to the rule of the cosmic Christ. In Him alone is the world's salvation.

Another form of ultimate messianic triumph is found in today's Gospel. Neither the Sadducees who do not believe in resurrection, nor the Pharisees who do, have the slightest inkling of the spiritual nature of Heaven. In their narrow view, they think to hang Jesus on the horns of a dilemma. They fail utterly. Because of their blind pride, they have not the grace to capitulate to the authority of the Teacher. Instead, even though they dared not ask him any more questions, their stubborn hearts are further hardened, and they are confirmed in their murderous plots against Jesus.

All of us will indeed rise--some to glory, and others to damnation. May God keep our hearts humble.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

____________________

These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2005 The Way, The Truth, The Life