Memorial of Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr
(II Maccabees 7:1.20-31; Luke
19:11-28)
One of the greatest achievements of the twentieth century
was completed on December 10, 1948. On
that day the United Nations overcame cultural and ideological barriers to adopt
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Of course, the system of rights and responsibilities has not always been
honored by its signees. Even the United
States for a number of years after the declaration’s passage permitted widespread
racial discrimination.
One right at the very core of the freedoms expressed in the Universal
Declaration is that of practicing one’s religious beliefs. Taken seriously, religion is not a personal
choice much less a whimsical fancy, but the following of one’s conscience where
God speaks to the person. It is also
constructive of a good society. All religions
worthy of the name should guide their adherents to virtue. Where religion is repressed, on the other
hand, rebellion follows discontent and disruption of peace.
The pious story in today’s first reading tells of a vicious ruler
who tries to suppress the Jewish religion.
Evidently many Jews went along with the barbarism, but not all nor,
perhaps, even the majority. Those who
did buy into the tyranny possibly thought, like many do today, that religion
does not matter as long as there is food on one’s table. The mother and her seven sons knew better. Because they believed that violating a
commandment of God is worse than death, they willingly accepted the latter. Their sacrifice anticipated that of Jesus who
likewise died in obedience to God and that of St. Cecilia, a third century
Roman martyr, whom we remember especially today. However, Jesus’ martyrdom was greater in a
real sense than all others. Although he
lived a completely righteous life according to the tenets of Jewish belief, he suffered
not just the outrageous decision of the political regime but the contempt of
the religious leaders in his land.
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