THE ONLY WAY TO DEFEAT TERRORISM
“Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother, who saw her seven sons perish in a single day, yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord.” –2 Maccabees 7:20
Mass Readings: November 22
First: 2 Maccabees 7:1,20-31; Resp: Psalm 17:1,5-6,8,15; Gospel: Luke 19:11-28
Listen to the Mass Readings
The Seleucids who persecuted the Jewish people at the time of the Maccabean revolt were terrorists. They did not just kill seven Jewish brothers but scalped, dismembered, and fried them one by one, while forcing the remaining brothers and their mother to watch every brutal act. The Seleucids planned that the mother’s anguish would be used to manipulate her sons into becoming traitors to their faith or that they would at least break the spirit of the mother and the Jewish nation by their terrorism.
However, the terrorists’ psychological warfare backfired on them. The mother’s relationship with the Lord and with her sons was so strong that she did not crack under pressure. She strengthened her sons to die heroic deaths, and she followed them in martyrdom. Her faith and her family’s faith was so strong that it defeated the terrorists.
Contrary to what many believe, terrorism is not defeated by military might. Because terrorism is demonic, it cannot be defeated by merely human means. It can be defeated only by faith in Jesus, especially by holy families of faith (see Mt 17:20-21). Therefore, we must become holy faith-filled disciples of Jesus, or we will be helpless, intimidated, manipulated victims of terrorists.
Jesus is the only name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). Have faith in Jesus, our only Hope.
PRAYER: Father, I reject the spirit of fear and accept the Holy Spirit (see 2 Tm 1:6-7; Rm 8:15).
PROMISE: ” ‘Good man!’ He replied. ‘You showed yourself capable in a small matter. For that you can take over ten villages!’ ” –Lk 19:17
PRAISE: St. Cecilia and her converts, her husband Valerian and brother-in-law Tiburtius, were martyred for their faith in Jesus.
