Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“He was filled with zeal; his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused.” —1 Maccabees 2:24 Jesus “wept over” Jerusalem (Lk 19:41). “Just look at the fruit of this sorrow” (2 Cor 7:11). “What a measure of holy zeal!” (2 Cor 7:11) Jesus’ tears fell like sparks igniting a fire on the earth (see Lk 12:49). Jesus’ sorrow did not lead to despondence. Rather, His sorrow motivated Him to run to Jerusalem and die on the cross to take away the sins of every person. Mattathias was grieved at the sins of God’s people (see 1 Mc 2:14)....

“Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and generously for the revered and holy laws.” –2 Maccabees 6:27-28 The ninety-year-old Eleazar refused to save his life by pretending he was eating pork. He knew that the example of his life of holiness would remain with others long after he died. Eleazar intentionally decided to offer his life and his faithful death as an example (2 Mc 6:19ff). St. Stephen’s example of holy martyrdom became an...

“The heavens and the earth will pass away but My words will not pass.” –Mark 13:31 The end of the world is certain. The Lord proclaims: “The heavens and the earth will pass away but My words will not pass” (Mk 13:31). The end of the world is unpredictable. “As to the exact day or hour, no one knows it, neither the angels in heaven nor even the Son, but only the Father” (Mk 13:32). The end of the world “shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time” (Dn 12:1). “During that period after trials...