Mass Readings for November 22, 2023

2 Maccabees 7:1,20-31
Psalms 17:1,5-6,8,15
Luke 19:11-28

2 Maccabees 7:1,20-31
(1) And it came to pass that seven kindred also with their mother were at the king’s command taken and shamefully handled with scourges and cords, to compel them to taste of the abominable swine’s flesh. (20) But above all was the mother marvelous and worthy of honorable memory; for when she looked on seven sons perishing within the space of one day, she bare the sight with a good courage for the hopes that she had set on the Lord. (21) And she exhorted each one of them in the language of their fathers, filled with a noble temper and stirring up her womanish thought with manly passion, saying to them, (22) I know not how you⌃ came into my womb, neither was it I that bestowed on you your spirit and your life, and it was not I that brought into order the first elements of each one of you. (23) Therefore the Creator of the world, who fashioned the generation of man and devised the generation of all things, in mercy gives back to you again both your spirit and your life, as you⌃ now contemn your own selves for his laws’ sake. (24) But Antiochus, thinking himself to be despised, and suspecting the reproachful voice, while the youngest was yet alive did not only make his appeal to him by words, but also at the same time promised with oaths that he would enrich him and raise him to high estate, if he would turn from the customs of his fathers, and that he would take him for his Friend and intrust him with affairs. (25) But when the young man would in no wise give heed, the king called to him his mother, and exhorted her that she would counsel the lad to save himself. (26) And when he had exhorted her with many words, she undertook to persuade her son. (27) But bending toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, she spoke thus in the language of her fathers: My son, have pity upon me that carried you nine months in my womb, and gave you suck three years, and nourished and brought you up to this age, and sustained you. (28) I beseech you, my child, to lift your eyes to the heaven and the earth, and to see all things that are therein, and thus to recognize that God made them not of things that were, and that the race of men in this wise comes into being. (29) Don’t be afraid of this butcher, but, proving yourself worthy of your kindred, accept your death, that in the mercy of God I may receive you again with your kindred. (30) But before she had yet ended speaking, the young man said, Whom wait you⌃ for? I obey not the commandment of the king, but I hearken to the commandment of the law that was given to our fathers through Moses. (31) But you, that have devised all manner of evil against the Hebrews, shall in no wise escape the hands of God.

Psalms 17:1,5-6,8,15
(1) Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips. (5) My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped. (6) I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech. (8) Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings, (15) As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

Luke 19:11-28
(11) As they heard these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that God’s Kingdom would be revealed immediately. (12) He said therefore, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. (13) He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins, and told them, ‘Conduct business until I come.’ (14) But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to reign over us.’ (15) “When he had come back again, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business. (16) The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.’ (17) “He said to him, ‘Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ (18) “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.’ (19) “So he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ (20) Another came, saying, ‘Lord, behold, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief, (21) for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn’t lay down, and reap that which you didn’t sow.’ (22) “He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn’t lay down, and reaping that which I didn’t sow. (23) Then why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?’ (24) He said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina away from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas.’ (25) “They said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ (26) ‘For I tell you that to everyone who has, will more be given; but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him. (27) But bring those enemies of mine who didn’t want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.’” (28) Having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.