Memorial of the Presentation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(I Maccabees 2:15-29; Luke 19:41-44)
With secure ways to imprison violent convicts most
Western countries and many American states have abandoned capital punishment
for most crimes. The exception to this
rule is treason which still carries the death penalty in states like Michigan,
the first English-speaking jurisdiction to ban it for other felonies. These facts provide context to understanding the
two killings that shock sensitive readers in the passage from I Maccabees
today.
Mattathias takes the lives of a Jew who was offering an
illegitimate sacrifice and of the king’s messenger, probably not Jewish, who is
promoting the abominable sacrifices. At
least the death of his first victim is mandated by the Law (Deuteronomy
13:7-10). But both killings should be taken
as legitimate execution. Just as some
contemporary jurisdictions treat treason as the only capital crime, sacrifice to
idols in ancient Israel is uniquely offensive.
It violates the Covenant in a way that not only affronts the Lord but
diminishes the people’s faith, which is necessary for Israel’s survival.
Although we cannot commend actions such as Mattathias’ if
done today, we should be cautious about condemning the Jewish hero. Jesus never faces such a critical situation
although he does use force in cleansing the Temple. It is his teaching, however, that inclines us
to veer away from capital punishment. He
implores us to love our enemy, which does not preclude putting him to death,
but certainly bids mercy. Capital
punishment, as the Church teaches, is a penalty of last resort when the common
good is genuinely and severely threatened.
