Family problems come from those who hate families. Many do not want families to see the History of 1 Maccabees: 1:10-15, 41-45, 54-57, 62-63, which show how God’s families are always attacked: From the descendants of Alexander the Great’s officers, there sprang “a sinful offshoot”, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. A man who chose the name that means “God Manifest”, became king in 170 BC and tried to replace the Jewish Faith.
Those who loved themselves more than God quickly joined him, and “seduced many people” by saying: “Let us go (away from our Faith!) and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us. Many children of Israel were in favor of his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the Sabbath.” God’s First Commandment was broken.
He mandated Public Education. “They built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, covered the mark of their circumcision, abandoned The Holy Covenant, allied themselves with Gentiles, and sold themselves to wrongdoing…they sacrificed to idols and profaned the Sabbath… whoever observed the law was condemned to death by royal decree… terrible affliction was upon Israel.”
Today’s Psalm Reading, 119:53,61,134,150, 155, 158 describes God’s Faithful People in every age: “Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands… Indignations seized me because of the wicked who forsake Your law… though the snares of the wicked are twined about me, Your law I have not forgotten. Redeem me from the oppression of men that I may keep your precepts… I am attacked by malicious persecutors who are far from your law… I beheld the apostates with loathing, because they kept not Your promise.”
Catholic Readings for the next few days describe the “Confusion Headaches” suffered by Godly people who fight evils in every age. We are blessed to understand what He Who Fulfilled The Prophecies did when He Spoke One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Faith into Being with His Church-Creating Word to The First Catholic Pope: “And I say unto you thou art Peter and on this rock I build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I give you the keys to The Kingdom of Heaven.”
May all, like the blind man in Today’s Reading, Luke 18:35-43, cry out “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” and let us be blessed to “Have sight. Your faith has saved you!”
Tomorrow, we see more about how The Maccabees solved the “Confusion Headaches” caused by those who hate God and their neighbors.
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Today’s Simple Rhyme: “The Saving Power that Catholics see: / The Blessed, Holy, Trinity!”
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