A woman and her sons

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

Assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, Dallas, Texas

(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)

A woman and her sons

It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God’s law.

Mom saw her seven sons “perish in a single day.” American war movies show American moms waiting at the summertime screen door, watching the US government car pull up outside, watching an immaculately dressed soldier carrying an envelope walking up the sidewalk, taking hold of the porch rail, walking onto the porch, and knocking on the door. By that time Mom has run away, run back, and run away again.

She knows exactly what’s coming.

Multiply that by seven? Impossible! But as this mother watched her sons die, she spoke clearly to them, and boldly, in their native language which the torturers could not understand.

I do not know how you came into existence in my womb; it was not I who gave you the breath of life. Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe who shapes each man’s beginning, as he brings about the origin of everything, he, in his mercy, will give you back both breath and life, because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law.

As this mom watched each son commit himself to God’s hands and then fall broken on the ground, she sang a little song her mom had sung to her. Perhaps it had not yet been written and passed out to the rest of us, but she sang of a faroff promise that gave her strength every single day.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus, lay down his sweet head

The stars in the sky, look down where he lay,

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

 

The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes

But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes

I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh

 

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever and love me, I pray

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care

And take us to heaven to live with Thee there.

 

Jesus told a story about a gold coin, invested for a 1000% profit, ten more coins to bless the master. I think this faithful Jewish woman and her husband, caught in Antiochus’ web of hubris, invested a gold coin in each of their sons and now, as their sons separately faced the decision which would keep them alive on earth or bring them into eternal life in heaven, she who was left could watch their investment bear full fruit.

Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones. And Jesus replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; now take charge of ten cities.”

It was not long now. Antiochus did not waver, in spite of the strength of will of his Jewish captives.

Last of all, after her sons, the mother was also put to death.

No matter. The Lord is her shepherd, she shall not want.

(2 Maccabees 7, Psalm 17, John 15, Luke 19)

(posted at www.davesandel.net)

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