--- title: Daily Readings Reflection for 11/18/09 description: Daily Readings Reflection for 11/18/09 --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2009/11/18/daily-readings-reflection-for-111809#) # Daily Readings Reflection for 11/18/09 Nov 18, 2009 5:00:33 PM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) Reflection on Today’s Daily Readings by Fr. Bertrand Buby, SM![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png "More...") [Today’s Readings](http://www.usccb.org/nab/) Scripture: Lectionary # 499. Wed of 33 week. II Macc. 7:1.20-31. Psalm 17:1.5-6.6-8. 15. Luke 19:11-28: Yesterday the reading from I Maccabees was about the heroic martyrdom of Eleazar, an elderly Israelite who is a martyr. Today we have from II Maccabees a more powerful story of a mother and her seven sons who are martyrs. The narrative seems similar to what the early Christians wrote in what are called "martyrologies." Both Eleazar and the unnamed woman are powerful models of courage and commitment to their belief in God as Creator and Redeemer. God is a person for them; not a cosmic force--that is too impersonal for men and women of the Bible. Eleazar is more involved with the rituals of the Israelites and laws of purification whereas the example of the mother and her sons is totally focused on their personal recognition of a God who created them in the image and likeness of God. She and her sons give their lives for the beliefs; they would rather die than break the commandments God has given them. The mother is a source of great strength for her children. They become martyrs for their convictions and fidelity to their Personal God. Themes of creation, redemption, and even resurrection are present within this dramatic narrative. We see there is a type of unity between the deutero-canonical books of the Alexandrian Jews and the Christian writings about the martyrs. The early Church fathers and mothers insisted on the unity of both testaments and that the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament. Only superficial reading of the bible makes people say that the God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath; the God of the New is a God of love. Paul challenges us to think more deeply than a superficial hasty reading of some parts of the Bible rather than seeing the revelatory mysteries and salvation history in the light of the whole of the Scriptures. Paul tells us the "gifts of God are irrevocable." He explains this in the section we saw a few weeks ago dedicated to the gifts God has given to the Jewish people. See Romans chapters 9-11. What can we take from the readings from Maccabees? A lesson about fidelity at all costs even of one's life and the courage to become a martyr. We will not be called to this in our lives, but we do know of modern day martyrs from the Holocaust, from Rwanda, from those who died under Communism. The innocent victims of the wars going on today are also martyrs and have the same courage and dedication that the earlier martyrs had. We need such powerful witnesses in a world that is filled with greed, lust, and hate. Amen. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F11%2F18%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-111809%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F11%2F18%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-111809%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F11%2F18%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-111809%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Readings%20Reflection%20for%2011%2F18%2F09) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F11%2F18%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-111809%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F11%2F18%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-111809%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Readings Reflection for 11/12.10 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/11/12/daily-readings-reflection-for-1112-10) [ Daily Readings Reflection for 1/13/10 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/01/13/daily-readings-reflection-for-11310) [ Daily Readings Reflection for 1/14/11 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/01/14/daily-readings-reflection-for-11411) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.