Today’s
Readings

And they all put crowns upon themselves after his death, and their sons after them many years, and evils were multiplied in the earth.

And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus the Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome: and he reigned in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

In those days there went out of Israel wicked men, and they persuaded many, saying: Let us go, and make a covenant with the heathens that are round about us: for since we departed from them, many evils have befallen us.

And the word seemed good in their eyes.

And some of the people determined to do this, and went to the king: and he gave them license to do after the ordinances of the heathens.

And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem, according to the laws of the nations:

Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her festival days were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honours were brought to nothing.

Her dishonour was increased according to her glory, and her excellency was turned into mourning.

And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people should be one: and every one should leave his own law.

And they commanded the cities of Juda to sacrifice.

Then many of the people were gathered to them that had forsaken the law of the Lord: and they committed evils in the land:

And they drove away the people of Israel into lurking holes, and into the secret places of fugitives.

On the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation upon the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all the cities of Juda round about:

And on the five and twentieth day of the month they sacrificed upon the altar of the idol that was over against the altar of God.

Now the women that circumcised their children, were slain according to the commandment of king Antiochus.

A fainting hath taken hold of me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

The cords of the wicked have encompassed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

Redeem me from the calumnies of men: that I may keep thy commandments.

They that persecute me have drawn nigh to iniquity; but they are gone far off from the law.

Salvation is far from sinners; because they have not sought thy justifications.

I beheld the transgressors, and I pined away; because they kept not thy word.

Now it came to pass, when he drew nigh to Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the way side, begging.

And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this meant.

And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

And he cried out, saying: Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.

And they that went before, rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out much more: Son of David, have mercy on me.

And Jesus standing, commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him,

Saying: What wilt thou that I do to thee? But he said: Lord, that I may see.

And Jesus said to him: Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole.

And immediately he saw, and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.