Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/1maccabees/1:10 1 MC 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63 (From the descendants of Alexander’s officers]there sprang a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes,son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome.He became king in the year one hundred and thirty sevenof the kingdom of the Greeks.In those days there appeared in Israelmen who were breakers of the law,and they seduced many people, sayingand Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around ussince we separated from them, many evils have come upon us.”The proposal was agreeablesome from among the people promptly went to the king,and he authorized them to introduce the way of livingof the Gentiles.Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalemaccording to the Gentile custom.They covered over the mark of their circumcisionand abandoned the holy covenantthey allied themselves with the Gentilesand sold themselves to wrongdoing.Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,each abandoning his particular customs.All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king,and many children of Israel were in favor of his religionthey sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev,in the year one hundred and forty-five,the king erected the horrible abominationupon the altar of burnt offeringsand in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.They also burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt.Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant,and whoever observed the law,was condemned to death by royal decree.But many in Israel were determinedand resolved in their hearts not to eat anything uncleanthey preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean foodor to profane the holy covenant and they did die.Terrible affliction was upon Israel. Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/psalms/119:53 PS 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158 R.Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Indignation seizes me because of the wickedwho forsake your law. R.Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,your law I have not forgotten. R.Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Redeem me from the oppression of men,that I may keep your precepts. R.Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. I am attacked by malicious persecutorswho are far from your law. R.Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Far from sinners is salvation,because they seek not your statutes. R.Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. I beheld the apostates with loathing,because they kept not to your promise. R.Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Alleluia and//usccb.org/bible/john/8:12 JN 8:12 R.Alleluia, alleluia.I am the light of the world, says the Lordwhoever follows me will have the light of life.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/luke/18:35 LK 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jerichoa blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.They told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”He shouted, Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”The people walking in front rebuked him,telling him to be silent,but he kept calling out all the more, Son of David, have pity on me!”Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to himand when he came near, Jesus asked him, What do you want me to do for you?”He replied, Lord, please let me see.”Jesus told him, Have sight your faith has saved you.”He immediately received his sightand followed him, giving glory to God.When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.