November 19, 2015 - Thursday

But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: “Although all the Gentiles in the king’s realm obey him, so that they forsake the religion of their ancestors and consent to the king’s orders,
yet I and my sons and my kindred will keep to the covenant of our ancestors.
Heaven forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments.
We will not obey the words of the king by departing from our religion in the slightest degree.” (1 Maccabees 2:19-22 NABRE)

Mattathias was the originator of the Maccabean rebellion*  against the Seleucids.* He refused and resisted the pagan worship being required by the occupying Greek king, Antiochus Epiphanes.

Coin of Antiochus IV Epiphanes

There are times when God's people are called to resist those who would put themselves and their word ahead of God. There are times when God's people have to make a choice, even when the stakes in this life are very high and the risk to life is present. There are times when we are called to see beyond this earthly place, to remember where our true citizenship lies, and to remain loyal to him who is the King of kings.

Today, I will remember my first loyalty is to the Lord.


Saint Agnes of Assisi, thirteenth-century Poor Claire nun who was devoted to prayer and penance, pray for us.