This week, our readings come from the 1st and 2nd books of the Maccabees, which are among the latest of the Old Testament writings, having been written about a century before the birth of Christ. These events chronicled in Maccabees take place in the 2nd century BC. First Maccabees was originally written in Hebrew, but the earliest edition that survives is in Greek. Second Maccabees was originally written in Greek. These two books are not a part of the Jewish and Protestant canon of Scripture, but are a part of the Catholic Bible. Today’s reading from first Maccabees follows the death of Alexander the Great, in which the territories conquered by him were divided among his officers and noblemen, who appointed themselves kings in their own regions. The ancestors of these men succeed them as rulers. At this time, a group of Jews want to leave their own traditions and ally themselves with the Greek rulers. Pagan altars were erected, with sacrifices being offered and incense being used. This was against Jewish law and their worship that was centered upon the Temple in Jerusalem.
Perhaps we can see a connection between this and what is going on today with practicing Christians. Some of the faithful do not attend Mass each Sunday and find it inconvenient to follow some of the practices of our faith, but they would not dream of missing one of their athletic events or other social obligations. Many Christians feel pressure to conform to the prevailing secular culture, worshipping the false idols of materialism, consumerism, and social status. There is so much we can learn from the lessons in Sacred Scripture.
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