Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, martyrs
Today Vietnamese Catholics celebrate their heroes. St. Andrew Dung-Lac and companion martyrs gave up their lives rather than their Catholic faith. These “ultimate sacrifices” have made it possible for their descendants to look forward to eternal life. The celebration is like that described in the mass’s first reading.
The passage tells of how the Jews burnt offerings and sang hymns of praise for eight days. They were celebrating the rededication of the Temple that had been desecrated by their pagan rulers. Many valiant Jews died in the hostilities that liberated the land from foreign hands. In his day Jesus too celebrated the feast, which is commonly known as Hanukkah.
More important is Jesus’ great sensibility for the Temple. As the meeting place of God and humanity, he chases the money changers from its confines. Later his followers will note how Jesus replaces the Temple with his own body. His flesh becomes the principal place of encounter between God and human beings. Nevertheless, because we Christians still need places to pray, we construct churches. But our churches do not replace Jesus; they glorify him.
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