>> A READING FROM THE SECOND BOOK OF MACCABEES. ELEAZAR, ONE OF THE FOREMOST SCRIBES, A MAN OF ADVANCED AGE AND NOBLE APPEARANCE, WAS BEING FORCED TO OPEN HIS MOUTH TO EAT PORK. BUT PREFERRING A GLORIOUS DEATH TO A LIFE OF DEFILEMENT, HE SPAT OUT THE MEAT, AND WENT FORWARD OF HIS OWN ACCORD TO THE INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE, AS PEOPLE OUGHT TO DO WHO HAVE THE COURAGE TO REJECT THE FOOD WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL TO TASTE EVEN FOR LOVE OF LIFE. THOSE IN CHARGE OF THAT UNLAWFUL RITUAL MEAL TOOK THE MAN ASIDE PRIVATELY, BECAUSE OF THEIR LONG ACQUAINTANCE WITH HIM, AND URGED HIM TO BRING MEAT OF HIS OWN PROVIDING, SUCH AS HE COULD LEGITIMATELY EAT, AND TO PRETEND TO BE EATING SOME OF THE MEAT OF THE SACRIFICE PRESCRIBED BY THE KING; IN THIS WAY HE WOULD ESCAPE THE DEATH PENALTY, AND BE TREATED KINDLY BECAUSE OF THEIR OLD FRIENDSHIP WITH HIM. BUT ELEAZAR MADE UP HIS MIND IN A NOBLE MANNER, WORTHY OF HIS YEARS, THE DIGNITY OF HIS ADVANCED AGE, THE MERITED DISTINCTION OF HIS GRAY HAIR, AND OF THE ADMIRABLE LIFE HE HAD LIVED FROM CHILDHOOD; AND SO HE DECLARED THAT ABOVE ALL HE WOULD BE LOYAL TO THE HOLY LAWS GIVEN BY GOD. HE TOLD THEM TO SEND HIM AT ONCE TO THE ABODE OF THE DEAD, EXPLAINING: AT OUR AGE IT WOULD BE UNBECOMING TO MAKE SUCH A PRETENSE; MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD THINK THE NINETY YEAR OLD ELEAZAR HAD GONE OVER TO AN ALIEN RELIGION. SHOULD I THUS PRETEND FOR THE SAKE OF A BRIEF MOMENT OF LIFE, THEY WOULD BE LED ASTRAY BY ME, WHILE I WOULD BRING SHAME AND DISHONOR ON MY OLD AGE. EVEN IF, FOR THE TIME BEING, I AVOID THE PUNISHMENT OF MEN, I SHALL NEVER, WHETHER ALIVE OR DEAD, ESCAPE THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY. 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. ELEAZAR SPOKE THUS, AND WENT IMMEDIATELY TO THE INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE. THOSE WHO SHORTLY BEFORE HAD BEEN KINDLY DISPOSED, NOW BECAME HOSTILE TOWARD HIM BECAUSE WHAT HE HAD SAID SEEMED TO THEM UTTER MADNESS. WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE UNDER THE BLOWS, HE GROANED AND SAID: THE LORD IN HIS HOLY KNOWLEDGE KNOWS FULL WELL THAT, ALTHOUGH I COULD HAVE ESCAPED DEATH, I AM NOT ONLY ENDURING TERRIBLE PAIN IN MY BODY FROM THIS SCOURGING, BUT ALSO SUFFERING IT WITH JOY IN MY SOUL BECAUSE OF MY DEVOTION TO HIM. THIS IS HOW HE DIED, LEAVING IN HIS DEATH A MODEL OF COURAGE AND AN UNFORGETTABLE EXAMPLE OF VIRTUE NOT ONLY FOR THE YOUNG BUT FOR THE WHOLE NATION. THE WORD OF THE LORD. >> THANKS BE TO GOD. >> THE LORD UPHOLDS ME. >> THE LORD UPHOLDS ME. >> O LORD, HOW MANY ARE MY ADVERSARIES! MANY RISE UP AGAINST ME! MANY ARE SAYING OF ME, THERE IS NO SALVATION FOR HIM IN GOD. >> THE LORD UPHOLDS ME. >> BUT YOU, O LORD, ARE MY SHIELD; MY GLORY, YOU LIFT UP MY HEAD! WHEN I CALL OUT TO THE LORD, HE ANSWERS ME FROM HIS HOLY MOUNTAIN. >> THE LORD UPHOLDS ME. >> WHEN I LIE DOWN IN SLEEP, I WAKE AGAIN, FOR THE LORD SUSTAINS ME. I FEAR NOT THE MYRIADS OF PEOPLE ARRAYED AGAINST ME ON EVERY SIDE. >> THE LORD UPHOLDS ME. (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ GOD LOVED US, AND SENT HIS SON AS EXPIATION FOR OUR SINS ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM LUCAM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> AT THAT TIME JESUS CAME TO JERICHO AND INTENDED TO PASS THROUGH THE TOWN. NOW A MAN THERE NAMED ZACCHAEUS, WHO WAS A CHIEF TAX COLLECTOR AND ALSO A WEALTHY MAN, WAS SEEKING TO SEE WHO JESUS WAS; BUT HE COULD NOT SEE HIM BECAUSE OF THE CROWD, FOR HE WAS SHORT IN STATURE. SO HE RAN AHEAD AND CLIMBED A SYCAMORE TREE IN ORDER TO SEE JESUS, WHO WAS ABOUT TO PASS THAT WAY. WHEN HE REACHED THE PLACE, JESUS LOOKED UP AND SAID, ZACCHAEUS, COME DOWN QUICKLY, FOR TODAY I MUST STAY AT YOUR HOUSE. AND HE CAME DOWN QUICKLY AND RECEIVED HIM WITH JOY. WHEN THEY SAW THIS, THEY BEGAN TO GRUMBLE, SAYING, HE HAS GONE TO STAY AT THE HOUSE OF A SINNER. BUT ZACCHAEUS STOOD THERE AND SAID TO THE LORD, BEHOLD, HALF OF MY POSSESSIONS, LORD, I SHALL GIVE TO THE POOR, AND IF I HAVE EXTORTED ANYTHING FROM ANYONE I SHALL REPAY IT FOUR TIMES OVER. AND JESUS SAID TO HIM, TODAY SALVATION HAS COME TO THIS HOUSE BECAUSE THIS MAN TOO IS A DESCENDANT OF ABRAHAM. FOR THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE WHAT WAS LOST. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> SISTER MARY MICHAEL HAVING A STRONG POLISH CONSTITUTION HAS REACHED HER 90TH YEAR. SHE IS THE LAST OF THE SISTERS WHO CAME FROM CANTON OHIO TO BEGIN THIS NEW MONASTERY IN ALABAMA. RECENTLY SHE SENT ME A NOTE AND IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IN TODAY'S 1ST READING ELIEZER WAS 90 YEARS OLD. AND SHE WROTE THIS LITTLE NOTE SHE SAID HI FATHER. I HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD YET WHEN I MUST DIE. BUT IT IS GETTING CLOSE SINCE I AM 90. AND A SMILEY FACE. I CAME ACROSS THIS VERSE WRITTEN BY 1 OF THE ENGLISH MARTYRS AND I LIKED IT. AND I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS YOU, SR. MARY MICHAEL. AND A LITTLE BACKGROUND OF THIS VERSE BEFORE I READ IT. IT WAS WRITTEN BY BLESSED RICHARD LANGHORNE. 1 OF THE ENGLISH MARTYRS. HE WAS MARTYRED ON JULY 14, 1679. HE WAS A LAWYER IN ENGLAND. AND THERE AROSE AT THAT TIME A FIERCE ANTI CATHOLIC PERSECUTION. AND HE WAS A LAWYER. HE WAS AN ADVISOR TO THE JESUITS WHO WERE THERE, AND 2 OF HIS SONS EVENTUALLY BECAME PRIEST. AND HE WAS ACCUSED OF HIGH TREASON BECAUSE HE WAS A CATHOLIC BECAUSE HE WAS ASSISTING THE JESUITS WERE THERE AND HE WAS CONDEMNED TO DEATH BY HANGING. HE SPENT A NUMBER OF MONTHS IN PRISON. AND OF COURSE THAT FALSE CHARGE OF HIGH TREASON WAS COMPLETELY FALSE AND IN FACT THE MAN WHO HAD WRITTEN THE ANTI CATHOLIC PAMPHLETS, HIS NAME WAS TITUS OATES BECAME KNOWN AS THE LIAR BECAUSE HIS WHOLE THING WAS JUST TO TAKE HIS OWN PARTICULAR ADVANTAGE. SO HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF HIGH TREASON AND SENTENCED TO DEATH. BUT HE WAS ALSO OFFERED MANY ESTATES AND DIFFERENT ADVANTAGES IF HE WOULD RENOUNCE HIS CATHOLIC FAITH. THINK OF TODAY'S 1ST READING. THESE WERE THESE ADVANTAGES. JUST PRETEND THAT YOU ARE EATING THE SACRIFICIAL FOOD, THE PORK. BRING YOUR OWN MEAT. ELIEZER WOULD HAVE NONE OF THAT. HE WAS NOT GOING TO LEAVE A BAD EXAMPLE. SIMILARLY BLESSED RICHARD WAS OFFERED ESTATES AND DIFFERENT THINGS AND THEY TOLD HIM JUST RENOUNCE YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH. BUT HE REFUSED TO DO IT. AND HE SAID HE WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY BEFORE HE DIED, HE PRAYED GOD BLESS HIS MAJESTY AND HIS KINGDOM. AND DEFEND HIM FROM ALL HIS ENEMIES. THEN HE PRAYED THAT THERE BE NO MORE BLOODSHED IN ENGLAND. AND THAT GOD WOULD FORGIVE THEM THAT DESIGNED OR REJOICED IN HIS DEATH. THEN HE SPENT ABOUT 15 MINUTES IN PRIVATE PRAYER. HE PRAYED PRAYERS IN ENGLISH, HE PRAYED PRAYERS IN LATIN. AT A CERTAIN POINT HE SAID I AM DESIROUS TO BE WITH JESUS. I AM READY. AND YOU NEED TO STAY NO LONGER FOR ME. IT IS NO LONGER NECESSARY TO WAIT. WHEN THE HANGMEN TOOK THE ROPE TO PLACE AROUND HIS NECK RICHARD KISSED IT. HE KISSED THE ROPE. THAT WAS GOING TO BRING HIM HOME TO THE LORD. SO THIS IS THE VERSE THAT HE WROTE WHEN HE WAS IN PRISON THAT SISTER MARY MICHAEL SENT TO ME. FROM BLESSED RICHARD. "IT IS TOLD ME I MUST DYE, O HAPPY NEWS. COME ON, MY DEAREST SOUL, BEHOLD THY JESUS CALLS THEE. HE PRAYED FOR THEE UPON HIS CROSS; THERE HE EXTENDED HIS ARMS TO RECEIVE THEE; THERE HE BOWED DOWN HIS HEAD TO KISS THEE; THERE HE CRYED OUT WITH A POWERFULL VOICE FATHER RECEIVE HIM, HE IS MINE. THERE HE OPENED HIS HEART TO GIVE THEE ENTRANCE. THERE HE GAVE UP HIS LIFE TO PURCHASE LIFE FOR THEE. IT IS TOLD ME I DYE O HAPPY NEWS. I SHALL BE FREED FROM MISERY. I SHALL NO MORE SUFFER PAIN. I SHALL NO MORE BE SUBJECT TO SIN. I SHALL NO MORE BE IN DANGER OF BEING DAMNED. BUT FROM HENCEFORTH I SHALL SEE AND I SHALL LIVE. I SHALL PRAISE AND I SHALL BLESS. AND THIS I SHALL ALWAYS DO WITHOUT EVER BEING WEARY OF DOING WHAT I ALWAYS AM TO DO. IT IS TOLD ME I MUST DYE. O WHAT HAPPINESS! I AM GOING TO THE PLACE OF MY REST; TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING; TO THE HAVEN OF SECURITY; TO THE KINGDOM OF PEACE; TO THE PALACE OF MY GOD; TO THE NUPTIALS OF THE LAMB; TO SIT AT THE TABLE OF MY KING; TO FEED ON THE BREAD OF ANGELS; TO SEE WHAT NO EYE HATH SEEN; TO HEAR WHAT NO EAR HATH HEARD; TO ENJOY WHAT THE HEART OF MAN CANNOT COMPREHEND. RICHARD LANGHORNE. SO BLESSED RICHARD UNDERSTOOD THAT DEATH WAS ESPECIALLY A DEATH FOR CHRIST AND FIDELITY TO THE FAITH, THAT DEATH WAS BUT THE TRANSITION TO THAT FULLNESS OF LIFE FOR WHICH HE LONGED. ST. PAUL SPOKE OF THAT ALSO IN HIS LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS AND HERE PAUL WAS A PRISONER AND HE IS A PRISONER AND DOES NOT KNOW HOW THIS IS ALL GOING TO TURN OUT IS HE GOING TO BE PUT TO DEATH. IS HE GOING TO BE FREED? SO HE WRITES TO THE PHILIPPIANS THIS IS IN CHAPTER 1, FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST. AND TO DIE IS GAIN. IF IT IS TO BE LIFE IN THE FLESH THAT MEANS FRUITFUL LABOR FOR ME. YET WHICH I SHALL CHOOSE I CANNOT TELL. I AM HARD PRESSED BETWEEN THE 2. MY DESIRE IS TO DEPART TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST FOR THAT IS A FAR BETTER BUT TO REMAIN IN THE FLESH IS MORE NECESSARY ON YOUR ACCOUNT. SO IT MEANS FRUITFUL LABOR FOR US MY DEAR PEOPLE IF WE ARE STILL HERE IN THE FLESH. ST. PAUL SAID WE HAVE THIS LONGING TO BE WITH THE LORD TO BE WITH HIM FOREVER BUT WE'RE STILL HERE AND THERE IS STILL WORK FOR US TO DO. RECENTLY DOUG KECK AND I DID A BOOKMARK ON A BOOK, IN HIS SANDALS. IT IS A WONDERFUL LITTLE BOOK. IT IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF 6 PROGRAMS THAT MOTHER ANGELICA DID IN 1978. SO THIS WAS BEFORE THE NETWORK EXISTED. I WAS TELLING FATHER MITCH ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID THAT IS PROBABLY 1 OF THE THINGS THAT ENCOURAGED HER TO GO AHEAD AND FOUND THE NETWORK. SO SHE MADE THESE MINISERIES BOTH 3 PARTS. ONE WAS CALLED IN HIS SANDALS AND THE OTHER WAS CALLED OUR HERMITAGE. PERHAPS YOU'VE SEEN IT ON EWTN. THESE WERE 1978 AND AIRED LOCALLY HERE IN THE AREA BUT ALSO NATIONALLY SOMEWHAT. BUT I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE 3RD PROGRAM FROM OUR HERMITAGE. THE LAST CHAPTER IN THIS BOOK. IN HIS SANDALS. MOTHER IS ADDRESSING HERSELF TO SENIOR CITIZENS. I SEE A FEW OUT THERE. I AM ONE. AND A FEW OF YOU OUT THERE ALSO. SHE IS SAYING TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE FURTHER ON IN THE YEARS, I LIKE SOMETHING IN TODAY'S READING TALKING ABOUT ELIEZER HOW HE HAD MERITED THE DISTINCTION OF HIS GRAY HAIR. AND THAT HE WAS WORTHY OF HIS YEARS AND THE DIGNITY OF HIS ADVANCED AGE. MOTHER ANGELICA TALKS ABOUT HOW OFTEN TODAY GROWING OLDER IS SEEN AS A CURSE. I LIKE GEORGE BURNS SAID I WISH I WAS 18 AGAIN. THAT IS ALL WE CAN THINK ABOUT AS WE GET OLDER. I WISH I WAS YOUNG I WISH I COULD DO THAT. SO OFTEN TODAY GETTING OLDER SEEMS A CURSE. MOTHER IS SAYING, WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE ARE YOU GIVING TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE? THIS IS WHAT ELIEZER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT. IF I JUST PRETEND THEN I'M GOING TO LEAVE A BAD EXAMPLE. SHE SAID TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE GETTING ON SHE SAYS WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE YOU GIVING TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE? ARE THEY SAYING I DO NOT WANT TO GET OLD? BECAUSE YOU ARE GROUCHY. OUT OF SORTS. ALL OF THAT. SHE SAID NO GETTING OLDER IS A BLESSING. SHE SAID I WANT TO LIVE TO BE 100 YEARS OLD. SHE LIVED TO BE ALMOST 93. WHY IS IT A BLESSING? IT IS A BLESSING BECAUSE WE ARE GROWING IN GRACE OVER THE YEARS. WE ARE GROWING IN WISDOM. SO HERE IS WHAT HER WORDS ARE TO THOSE WHO ARE GROWING OLDER. YOUR MISSION IS TO PROVE TO THE YOUTH OF TODAY AND THE MIDDLE AGE THAT THERE IS A KINGDOM. YOU LOOK FORWARD TO GOING. YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THAT KINGDOM. AND THAT THIS LIFE BE IT EVER SO BURDENSOME TO YOU AND DIFFICULT AND LONELY AND PAINFUL, IS A JOY BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING GOD'S WILL AND THAT YOU HAVE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN YOUR SOUL. AND SHE IS COMMENTING ON THE WEDDING AT CANA WHEN JESUS TURNED WATER INTO WINE THAT THE WATER HE GAVE YOU WHEN HE CREATED YOU HAS BEEN TURNED INTO THE WINE OF HIS GRACE. AND THAT GRACE HAS GROWN GREATER AND GREATER AS YOU GOT OLDER THAT THE WISDOM YOU HAD AND AMASSED OVER THE YEARS YOU WERE WILLING TO SHARE WITH THE YOUTH. AND SHE WOULD SAY TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE, DO NOT LOOK AT ALL OLDER PEOPLE AS JUST SENILE AND HAVING NOTHING TO OFFER. NO. LIKE MATTHEW KELLY. HE WOULD GO TO THE NURSING HOMES. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE? HE WOULD GET THESE DIFFERENT INSIGHTS FROM THEIR WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE OVER THE YEARS. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. AND TO THINK THAT AS WE GROW OLDER, IT IS A BLESSING. BECAUSE EVERY DAY THAT WE CAN GROW IN GOD'S GRACE TODAY I CAN BE GROWING IN HIS GRACE BY LOVING HIM, BY LOVING OTHERS BY STRIVING TO DO HIS WILL. AND THE LONGER THAT I LIVE THE MORE THAT I CAN GROW IN GRACE AND IN MY CAPACITY TO RECEIVE HIS LOVE FOR ALL ETERNITY IT IS INCREASING. EVEN AS MOTHER ANGELICA SAYS, EVEN BE IT SO BURDENSOME AND DIFFICULT AND LONELY AND PAINFUL PERHAPS. IT IS A JOY BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING GOD'S WILL. YOU ARE GROWING IN GRACE. YOU ARE GROWING IN WISDOM. SO LET US NOT LOOK AT GETTING OLDER AS A CURSE BUT AS IT REALLY IS FOR THOSE WHO ARE BELIEVERS. THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST. THAT HE IS DOING SOMETHING WONDERFUL IN OUR SOULS. EVERY DAY. AND IT IS FOR US TO OPEN OUR HEARTS TO LOVE HIM. TO SERVE HIM. AND ONE DAY LIKE BLESSED RICHARD LANGHORNE UNDERSTOOD, ONE DAY TO BE WITH HIM IN THAT PLACE WHERE THERE ARE NO MORE TEARS OR CRYING. SO I CONCLUDE AGAIN WITH THAT LAST PART OF HIS VERSES. "IT IS TOLD ME I MUST DYE." THAT'S FOR ALL OF US. "O WHAT HAPPINESS! I AM GOING TO THE PLACE OF MY REST; TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING; TO THE HAVEN OF SECURITY; TO THE KINGDOM OF PEACE; TO THE PALACE OF MY GOD; TO THE NUPTIALS OF THE LAMB; TO SIT AT THE TABLE OF MY KING; TO FEED ON THE BREAD OF ANGELS; TO SEE WHAT NO EYE HATH SEEN; TO HEAR WHAT NO EAR HATH HEARD; TO ENJOY WHAT THE HEART OF MAN CANNOT COMPREHEND.
