Official Translation
Reading 1 – 2 Maccabees 7.1, 20-31
It came to pass that seven siblings along with their mother, were apprehended,
and were tormented with whips and scourges by the king
in order to compel them to eat swine's flesh against the law.
Now the mother who beheld seven sons slain in the space of one day
was to be admired above measure,
and worthy to be remembered by good humans.
She bore it with great courage because of the hope that she had in God.
She bravely exhorted every one of them in her own language,
being filled with wisdom and joining a man's heart to a woman's mind.
She said to them, “I do not know how you were formed in my womb:
for I neither gave you breath, nor soul, nor life,
nor did I form the limbs of any one of you.
But the Creator of the world,
who designed the gestation of humans and causes the origin of all,
will restore to you again in his mercy, both breath and life,
since you now forsake yourselves for the sake of his laws.
Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised,
and, anyway, despising the mocking voice,
when the youngest was yet alive,
not only exhorted him by words but even assured him with an oath,
that he would make him a rich and happy man,
If he would turn from the laws of his fathers,
he would take him for a Friend and furnish him with an income.
When the young man was not moved with these things,
the king called the mother and advised her to
convince the young man to save his life.
When he had exhorted her with many words,
she promised that she would counsel her son.
So bending herself towards him, mocking the cruel tyrant,
she said her own language,
“My son, have pity on me, who bore you for nine months my womb,
and nursed you for years and nourished you and raised you to this age.
I beg you, my son, look upon heaven and earth and all that is in them.
Consider that God made them out of nothing and humans also.
So do not fear this tormentor,
but being a worthy equal with your siblings, receive death,
so that in mercy I may receive you again with your siblings.”
While she was yet speaking these words, the young man said,
“What are you waiting for? I will not obey the commandment of the king,
but the commandment of the law given to us by Moses.
But you have been the author of all violence against the Hebrews,
shall not escape the hand of God.”
Responsorial – Psalm 17.1bcd, 5-6, 8b+15 Resp. Psalm 17.15b
R. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.
Hear justice, O LORD,
attend unto my cry,
give ear unto my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.
R. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.
Sustain my travels in your paths,
so that my feet will not slip.
I have called upon you, for your will hear me, O God.
Incline your ear to me and hear my speech.
R. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me under the shadow of your wings.
As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness.
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.
R. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.
Gospel – Luke 19.11-28
And as they heard these things,
Jesus added and spoke a parable, because he was near Jerusalem
and because they thought that the kingdom of God would immediately appear.
So he said,
“A certain nobleman went into a far country
to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
And he called ten of his servants, and entrusted to them ten minas,
and said to them, ‘Be busy until I come back.”
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him,
saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
It came to pass, that when he had returned, having received the kingdom,
he commanded these servants to whom he had given the money,
to be called to him,
so that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten mina.
And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant.
Because you have been faithful in a very little,
have authority over ten cities.’
And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has gained five mina.’
And he likewise said to him, ‘You will be over five cities.’
Another came, saying, ‘Master, behold, here is your mina,
which I have kept laid up in a napkin.
because I feared you, for you are a severe man.
You take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’
And he said to him,
‘Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant.
You knew that I was a severe man,
taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow.
Why then did you not give my money to the bank,
so that at my coming I might have had mine plus interest?’
And he said to those who stood by,
‘Take from him the mina, and give it to him who has ten minas.’
And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’
‘I say unto you that everyone who has shall be given to,
and even what they have shall be taken away from them who do not have.’
But as for those enemies of mine,
who did not wish that I should reign over them,
bring them here and slay them before me.’”
And when he had thus spoken,
he led the way, ascending up to Jerusalem.
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