First Reading — 1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
George Leo Haydock
On 1:10
Death, twelve years being expired, when all the posterity of Alexander [the Great] were dead. His generals gradually destroyed each other, and four took the diadem at the same time: Ptolemy, in Egypt; Seleucus, in Syria; Cassander, in Macedonia; and Lysimachus, in Thrace. (Just. xiii., and xv.) (Calmet) — Those who choose to read in order, may, after the preface [in] 2 Machabees ii. 20., read the above, then 2 Machabees iii. 1. (Worthington)
On 1:11
Antiochus the illustrious; Epiphanes, the younger son of Antiochus the great, who usurped the kingdom, to the prejudice of his nephew Demetrius, son of his elder brother, Seleucus Philopater. (Challoner) — Epiphanes means “renowed.” (Worthington) — He took this title, particularly after the Samaritans had offered it to him. (Josephus, Antiquities xii.; Vaillant. A. 145.) — His medals have always God prefixed, “the god appearing;” as he came opportunely, like a god, to defend the kingdom against the Egyptians, after he had been fourteen years a hostage at Rome. (Calmet) — Nothing could be more abject than his character. (St. Jerome, in Daniel viii., and ix.) (Atheneus v. 4., and x. 12.) — Greeks, counting not from the beginning of the reign of Alexander [the Great], but from the first year of Seleucus Nicator. (Challoner) — The era of the Seleucides began in spring or autumn, the year of the world 3692, the year before Christ 312, though the Chaldeans and Ptolemy date from the following spring. (Calmet) — The Grecian monarchy had then stood twenty years. (Eusebius) (Worthington)
On 1:12
Men. Jason attempted to supplant Onias III and introduced pagan customs, when he was dead. Menelaus treated him in like manner. Being cited to pay what he had promised, he left Lysimachus in his place, who was slain in the temple, which he was robbing, 2 Machabees iv. — Us. Thus the Jews complained in the days of Jeremias, (xliv. 18.) and the Christian religion was blamed for all the miseries which fell upon the Roman empire. (Calmet) — St. Augustine proves in his City of God, that this accusation was false. (Haydock)
On 1:16
Made. St. Jerome thinks the attempt useless. But the Jews discovered the art. (St. Epiphanius; Pond. xvi.; Bartol.) (1 Corinthians vii. 18.) — Sold to the devil, becoming his instruments, 3 Kings xxi. 25., and Romans vii. 14. (Calmet) — Go to 2 Machabees iv. 7.
On 1:17
Egypt. He coveted this kingdom, having Syria already. (Worthington) — He was not very fit for war: but Egypt was not under Philometor a child, and Ephphanes made an easy conquest. This was his second visit to that country. While he besieged Alexandria, a report of his death was spread; and as he was informed that the Jews rejoiced at it, he fell upon them, ver. 21. (Calmet) — After ver. 20, read 2 Machabees iv. 21. (Worthington)
On 1:23
Sanctuary. Josephus (Antiquities xii. 6.) writes, that Antiochus slew such as opposed his entrance into the city, and afterwards those who opened the gates, but would have prevented his plundering the temple. (Worthington) — Menelaus conducted the king, 2 Machabees v. 15. Profane authors condemn this conduct of the king towards a city subject to him. (Josephus, contra Apion 2.) — Diodorus relates several fables on this occasion. (Calmet)
On 1:30
The chief collector, &c. Apollonius. (Challoner) (2 Machabees v. 24.) (Worthington) — He basely fell upon the unsuspecting citizens on a sabbath day. (Haydock)
On 1:35
The city of David. That is, the castle of Sion. (Challoner) — In it was placed a garrison of Macedonians. (Worthington) — This castle had been occupied by Syrians before. It was now enlarged, 2 Machabees iv. 27., and v. 5.
On 1:38
Sanctuary, to pillage all who came to the temple. (Calmet) — An evil devil. Literally, an adversary, watching constantly to do harm, as the evil spirit is always watching and seeking whom he could devour. (Challoner)
On 1:40
Fled with Judas, &c. (2 Machabees v.) Josephus (Antiquities xii. 7.) assures us that the Samaritans flattered Epiphanes, and begged their temple might be consecrated to Jupiter, &c. They pretended that they were of Sidonian extraction.
On 1:43
Be one. This reason herself teaches. But the king wished to establish a false religion, or rather he desired to root out all religion, and to shew his authority. (Haydock) — Demere superstitionem & mores Gręcorum dare adnixus. (Tacitus v.) — He was not content with plunder, unless he ruined souls. (Worthington)
On 1:57
Fifteenth. In all other places the 25th, whence this may be incorrect, (Calmet) or the altar was now set up, (Haydock) though sacrifices were not yet offered. (Calmet) — Idol. The statue of Jupiter Olympius, (Challoner) as Daniel (ix.) had foretold, as a figure of what antichrist would do, (Matthew xxiv.; Worthington) as well as the Romans, when they took Jerusalem.
On 1:59
Law, and all the sacred writings. (Josephus; Sulpitius ii.) — The pious Jews secreted what they could, and Judas took care to collect them, 2 Machabees i. 14., and iii. 48. (Calmet)
On 1:61
After month. The officers took an account of the slain, (Grotius) or the dedication of the statue was renewed, or rather the king’s nativity was kept, 2 Machabees vi. 7. (Calmet) — But this would only occur once a-year. People were compelled to sacrifice on the same day of each month on which the statue had been dedicated, ver. 62.
Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158
Aphrahat the Persian Sage
On 118:62
In petition one asks for mercy for one's sins, in thanksgiving you give thanks to your Father who is in heaven, while in praise you praise him for his works. At a time when you are in trouble, offer up petition, and when you are well supplied with good things, you should give thanks to the Giver, and when your mind rejoices, offer up praise. Make all these prayers of yours with discernment to God. See how David was always saying, "I have risen to give thanks to you for your judgments, O just One." And in another psalm he said, "Praise the Lord in heaven, praise him in the heights." Again he says, "I will bless the Lord at all times, and at all times his praises are in my mouth." Do not pray using only one kind of prayer, but pray them at different times.
Gospel — Luke 18:35-43
Ambrose of Milan
On 18:35
In the blind man we have a type of the Gentile people, who have received by the Sacrament of our Lord the brightness of the light which they had lost. And it matters not whether the cure is conveyed in the case of one or two blind men, inasmuch as deriving their origin from Ham and Japhet, the sons of Noah, in the two blind men they put forward two authors of their race.
On 18:35
Or, He asked the blind man to the end that we might believe, that without confession no man can be saved.