1ST READING
St.
Cecilia is one of the patron saints of music. There is a line in a song
from my youth: “Cecilia, you’re breaking my heart; you’re shaking my
confidence.” It comes to mind when I hear an atonal voice in a choir. We
have to learn to recognize that we do not have all the gifts, and, if
we do not have a good voice, then perhaps we should avoid joining the
choir. There is always something else we can do.
1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59 (or Hosea 2:16, 17, 21-22)
36 Judas and his brothers said, “Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.” 37 So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion. 52 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, 53 they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar of burnt offering that they had made. 54 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. 55 All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success. 56 For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of deliverance
and praise. 57 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. 58 There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed. 59 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.
P S A L M
1 1 Chronicles 29:10, 11, 11-12, 12 (or Psalm 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17)
R: We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
10 “Blessed may you be, O Lord, God of Israel our father, from eternity to eternity.” (R) 11 “Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory. For all in heaven and on earth is yours.” (R) “Yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Riches and
honor are from you.” (R) “You have dominion over all. In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.” (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus
is not interested in excuses when it is obvious that they are
irrelevant. The Temple is meant to be the House of God and not a market
place for commercial transactions. He is justifiably irate at this
misuse of the temple precinct. Let us be mindful of others when we
attend Mass and allow them to pray in silence before and after Mass, and
move our discussions of mundane matters outside the Church.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
Luke 19:45-48 (or Matthew 25:1-13)
45 Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.’” 47 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, 48 but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.
think: We have to learn to recognize that we do not have all the gifts.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 96-100
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