Tuesday, November 16, 2021

 

Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Maccabees 6:18-31; Luke 19:1-10)

In Erik Erickson’s classic study of the social life cycle final consideration is given to “ego integrity.”  By this term the author means an integration of one’s life without despair.  It is the acceptance of death with tranquility because life has been lived according to principle.  Certainly Eleazar dies with such integrity in today’s first reading.

The scene is quite graphic.  The old man is being forced to do his religion’s abominable act of eating pork.  When he refuses, his friends tell him to fake the abomination in order to save his life.  But Eleazar knows that such a travesty is a fate worse than death.  He chooses to die with integrity and leave behind a rich legacy to Jews throughout the ages.

As we grow old, we should be seeking ego integrity.  The task does not require exertion as much as thought, conviction, and sacrifice.  We must discern our life principles that include faith and aspects of our culture and decisions we have made along the way.  We might share these principles so that others could help us see them through.  Perhaps they require repentance of the mistakes that we have made in failing to live up to Christ’s commands.  Then we must take care to practice them until the end.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Maccabees 6:18-31; Luke 19:1-10)

We look to the aged for prudence.  Experience has taught them not to delay something which must be done and to work diligently.  We also expect faithfulness in our elders.  They have learned the value of keeping commitments over the long haul.  Generosity is another virtue associated with the silver years.  Seniors have come to realize that giving has never made anyone poor.  Today’s first reading celebrates old age with the story of Eleazar, a virtuous Jew.

Eleazar refuses to eat pork to save his life.  He does not care that he will be tortured, much less that his das are ended.  What matters to him is keeping faith in God who created him.  Even when he is offered a ploy to avoid execution, he refuses.  Eleazar understands that being part of a people makes one responsible for others.  In this case he does not want to create scandal by giving bad example.  He is particularly conscious of the young who might be led astray.  They need to learn the nobility of the nation’s traditions.

We live in an age of individualism.  People care mostly about themselves and the circle immediately around them.  Too often the elderly lack a sense of intergenerational responsibility.  We need them to act like heroes as Eleazar does.  We need them to show us how not to live only for ourselves but for others.  We need them to assure us that God’s ways will lead to glory.

Tuesday, November 20, 2019

Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Maccabees 6:18-31; Luke 19:1-10)

We look to the aged for prudence.  Experience has taught them not to delay something which must be done and to work diligently.  We also expect faithfulness in our elders.  They have learned the value of keeping commitments over the long haul.  Generosity is another virtue associated with the silver years.  Seniors have come to realize that giving has never made anyone poor.  Today’s first reading celebrates old age with the story of Eleazar, a virtuous Jew.

Eleazar refuses to eat pork to save his life.  He does not care that he will be tortured, much less that his das are ended.  What matters to him is keeping faith in God who created him.  Even when he is offered a ploy to avoid execution, he refuses.  Eleazar understands that being part of a people makes one responsible for others.  In this case he does not want to create scandal by giving bad example.  He is particularly conscious of the young who might be led astray.  They need to learn the nobility of the nation’s traditions.

We live in an age of individualism.  People care mostly about themselves and the circle immediately around them.  Too often the elderly lack a sense of intergenerational responsibility.  We need them to act like heroes as Eleazar does.  We need them to show us how not to live only for ourselves but for others.  We need them to assure us that God’s ways will lead to glory.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, religious

(II Maccabees 6:18-31; Luke 19:1-10)

Old age suffers a lot. The elderly regularly experience memory loss and loss of friends.  Their bodies naturally weaken and they are more susceptible to disease.  But seniors need not suffer the loss of integrity.  In fact, they have the opportunity to demonstrate the most glorious trait of all – a life surrender to love of God and neighbor.  Such is the witness of Eleazar in today’s first reading.

The old man is being tempted to eat forbidden pork.  It is not that pork is bad in itself but that eating it clearly defies God’s commandment in the Mosaic law.  Eleazar refuses to eat it.  Then he is encouraged to feign eating it to save himself from execution.  Eleazar recognizes this as an even greater outrage.  He would be intentionally deceiving others – an intrinsic evil.  Eleazar chooses the high road.  He allows himself to be executed rather than disobey God’s law.  His courageous deed echoes through the centuries.

Our love for God will probably never be tested to the extent that Eleazar’s was.  That itself is reason to thank God.  Yet we are called to give testimony to our love for God by giving special attention to the poor and marginalized.  When we go out of our way to talk with a lonely person, we demonstrate the love of God just as surely as we would by fasting a whole week.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Maccabees 6:18-31; Luke 19:1-10)

There is a cliché saying that old age with all its limitations is better than the alternative, meaning death.  Eleazar in the reading from II Maccabees today disproves that line.  At once he shows where true glory lies and how to attain it.

The situation is hardly impossible although it may seem far-fetched in many societies today.  Eleazar is coaxed to fake eating pork, prohibited in the Jewish diet, in order to conform to the dictates of the cultural imperialists of his time.  Made wise with his years, Eleazar realizes that old men and women are to teach youth the virtues of loyalty and devotion.  Even though it will cost him his life, he knows that he must not lead younger people astray by pretending to eat the tabooed meat.  Of course, he realizes as well that his persecutors could only spare his physical life.  They cannot bestow upon him eternal life which comes as a gift from God to those who do his will.

Too often today old people emulate youth rather than vice versa.  It is not that young people have nothing to teach the elderly.  Some demonstrate edifying toleration for different kinds of people that is worthy of imitation.  Nevertheless, as we grow old, we hopefully become wise and pass our wisdom to younger generations.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Memorial of Saint Albert the Great, bishop

(II Maccabees 6:18-31; Luke 19:1-10)

Conventional wisdom sees old age as a time of relaxation. The aged should not have to work and may be excused from the disciplines other adults are expected to keep. St. Albert the Great shunned this kind of thinking for himself at least. When he saw that the legacy of St. Thomas Aquinas under attack, he left the leisure of his cell to defend Thomas’ teachings. It was hardly a matter of pride in Aquinas as his former student. Albert realized as much as anyone that Thomas’ writings would be one of the richest treasures in the Church’s storehouse.

In the first reading we hear of another senior who refuses to allow himself to be seduced by comfort. Eleazar could avoid torture by flaunting the Jewish Law along with the masses. His sense of righteousness, however, does not permit it. He further rejects causing scandal by refusing to feign eating pork in order to escape death.

We owe the elderly respect and in many cases thanks. They have given us life and built a society recognized for justice and development. But their work is not finished. In our age of wavering virtue we need them to exemplify faith in God and commitment to righteous living. Without these the gains of the previous generation will be lost in the next.

Homilette for Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Maccabees 6:18-31; Luke 19:1-10)

The word scandal comes from the Greek skandalon meaning a trap or stumbling block. Scandals are moral potholes into which weak individuals may fall and injure themselves. We see scandal in the well-substantiated reports of American officials torturing Muslim detainees after 9-11. Such immoral behavior belies human dignity. Unless it is repudiated soon, future generations of Americans will accept the fallacy that torture is acceptable and even beneficial.

In the first reading today we find a counter-example. Eleazar, a ninety year-old Jew, refuses to give scandal to younger Jews who might be inclined to compromise the integrity of their faith. Rather than feigning to eat pork by substituting kosher meat for it, he decides that he would rather die at the hands of his persecutors. The noble stand has not only won Eleazar Maccabees a place in heaven; it has also become an example of righteousness and integrity for all history.

We should look to the elderly for guidance on what truly matters. Chastened by experience, they might remind younger generations that God counts above all and that our neighbors deserve as much of our love as we have for ourselves. In the upcoming holiday season they will hopefully show us again that our first obligation is to give thanks to God for all that we have. Then let them demonstrate how continued and caring concern for others outshines diamonds as gifts.

Homilette for Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Tuesday, XXXIII Week of Ordinary Time

II Maccabees 6:18-31

Our word scandal comes from the Greek skandalon meaning a trap or stumbling block. Scandals are moral potholes into which weaker individuals may fall and injure themselves. Certainly President Clinton’s indiscretions a decade ago left the impression for many in society that matrimonial infidelity is commonplace if not commendable. Similarly, the many instances of sexual abuse of minors involving Catholic clergy left many people distrustful of the value of the Church.

In the first reading today we find a counter-example. Eleazar, a ninety year old Jew, refuses to give scandal in order to strengthen those who might be inclined to compromise the integrity of their faith. Rather than leave the impression that he is eating pork, Eleazar rejects the idea that he substitute kosher meat for it. His stand will cost him his life but has distinguished his name in history as well as provided him a place of glory in heaven.

We look to the elderly as examples of what truly matters. They serve the critical function of reminding the rest of us that God counts above all and that we ought to love our neighbors as much as ourselves. In the upcoming holiday season they will hopefully show us again that our first obligation is to give thanks to God for all that we have. Then they should demonstrate how our caring presence to one another outshines diamonds that might be received in gifts.