NOVEMBER 21, 2023 Tuesday, 33rd week of Ordinary Time — Odd YearPresentation of the Virgin MaryMemoryFIRST READING “By choosing to die for our venerable and holy laws, I will have left the noble example of a beautiful death” (2 M 6, 18-31)

NOVEMBER 21, 2023

 Tuesday, 33rd week of Ordinary Time — Odd Year

Presentation of the Virgin Mary

Memory

FIRST READING 

“By choosing to die for our venerable and holy laws, I will have left the noble example of a beautiful death” (2 M 6, 18-31)

Reading the second book of the Martyrs of Israel

In those days

    Eleazar was one of the most eminent scribes.

He was a very old man,

and very good-looking.

They tried to force him to eat pork

by forcing his mouth open.

    Preferring to have a prestigious death

rather than an abject life,

he walked of his own free will towards the instrument of torture,

    after having spat out this meat,

as one must do

when one has the courage to reject

what he is. not allowed to eat,

even for love of life.

    Those who were responsible for this sacrilegious meal

had known it for a long time.

They took him aside and advised him

to bring meats whose use was permitted,

and which he would have prepared himself.

He would only have to pretend

to eat the flesh of the victim

to obey the king;

    by doing so, he would escape death

and be treated humanely

thanks to the old friendship he had for them.

    But he made a beautiful reasoning,

well worthy of his age,

of the rank that his old age gave him,

of the respect that his white hair earned him,

of his irreproachable conduct since childhood,

and above all worthy of the holy legislation established by God.

He spoke accordingly,

asking that he be sent to hell without delay:

    “Such a comedy is unworthy of my age.

Because many young people would believe that Eleazar,

at 90 years old,

adopted the way of life of foreigners.

    Because of this comedy, through my fault,

they too would let themselves be led astray;

and I, for a miserable remainder of my life,

would bring shame and dishonor upon my old age.

    Even if I avoid, for the moment,

the punishment that comes from men,

I will not escape, alive or dead,

from the hands of the Almighty.

    This is why, by leaving life today with courage,

I will show myself worthy of my old age

    and, by choosing to die with determination and nobility

for our venerable and holy laws,

I will have left young people

the noble example of 'a beautiful death. »

With these words, he went straight to the execution.

    To those who led him,

these words were madness;

this is why they suddenly went

from benevolence to hostility.

    As for him, at the moment of dying under the blows,

he said, groaning:

“The Lord, in his holy knowledge, sees it well:

while I could escape death,

I endure under the lash

pains which cause suffering my body ;

but in my soul I bear them with joy,

because I fear God. »

    Such was the death of this man.

He thus left, not only to the youth

but to all of his people,

an example of nobility and a memorial of virtue.

            – Word of the Lord.