First Reading
1 MC 4:36-37, 52-59
Judas and his brothers said,
“Now that our enemies have been crushed,
let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.”
So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.
Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month,
that is, the month of Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-eight,
they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law
on the new altar of burnt offerings that they had made.
On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it,
on that very day it was reconsecrated
with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals.
All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven,
who had given them success.
For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar
and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices
of deliverance and praise.
They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields;
they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers
and furnished them with doors.
There was great joy among the people
now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.
Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel
decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar
should be observed with joy and gladness
on the anniversary every year for eight days,
from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.
Responsorial Psalm
1 CHRONICLES 29:10BCD, 11ABC, 11D-12A, 12BCD
R. (13b) We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“Blessed may you be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“You have dominion over all,
In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
Gospel
LK 19:45-48
Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things, saying to them,
“It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,
but you have made it a den of thieves.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple area.
The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,
were seeking to put him to death,
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose
because all the people were hanging on his words.
“You have dominion over all, In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.” ( 1 Chronicles 29: 12BCD)
REFLECTION
Upon hearing the news about the different world events specifically recent killings from some parts of the world and natural calamities that happened recently, I couldn’t help but wonder where God is in the lives of those people affected; more so to those people responsible for the killings. Human as we are, we are full of imperfections and we are easily tempted to do evil things especially if it will be for our own good or if our actions are fueled by anger, greed and human desire. It just saddens me how innocent people especially children are being affected by such human actions. Articles in the internet would show survivors from the killings explaining their real life experience, of how traumatized they were of what they saw and experienced from the hands of these cruel people who present themselves. These people say the come from a particular religion but clearly they do not have God in their lives. I believe that evil has no religion, that these people who claim to be are pretentious people aiming to destroy religions in order for their self interest to happen.
Amidst all the chaos happening in the world today, may it be by natural calamities, tragedies, mass killings, or maybe even the spiritual chaos happening in our own very self, I realized that only God is in control of our lives and that true power and might comes from Him alone. No one knows when our time will come especially for the innocent victims who were just having their dinner or maybe walking on the side streets when these killings happened but one thing is definitely for sure that at the end of our lives we will all be subject to one God, the universal God always in control of our lives.
Prayer
Almighty Father, You alone hold the greatest power and might that no human being could ever possess. Lord show to your people that you are always in control of their lives and that nothing happens by chance even if tragedies are happening. Father, comfort and show these victims your great mercy and compassion. Amen!
Author
Click on the picture to find out more about Patrice!
Little Whispers 