Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
November 22, 2021
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr
Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
Lectionary: 503
Reading I
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came
and laid siege to Jerusalem.
The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
and some of the vessels of the temple of God;
he carried them off to the land of Shinar,
and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god.
The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain,
to bring in some of the children of Israel of royal blood
and of the nobility, young men without any defect,
handsome, intelligent and wise,
quick to learn, and prudent in judgment,
such as could take their place in the king’s palace;
they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans;
after three years’ training they were to enter the king’s service.
The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine
from the royal table.
Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.
But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself
with the king’s food or wine;
so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement.
Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy
of the chief chamberlain, he nevertheless said to Daniel,
“I am afraid of my lord the king;
it is he who allotted your food and drink.
If he sees that you look wretched
by comparison with the other young men of your age,
you will endanger my life with the king.”
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain
had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah,
“Please test your servants for ten days.
Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men
who eat from the royal table,
and treat your servants according to what you see.”
He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days;
after ten days they looked healthier and better fed
than any of the young men who ate from the royal table.
So the steward continued to take away
the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.
To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency
in all literature and science,
and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams.
At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation,
the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
When the king had spoken with all of them,
none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah;
and so they entered the king’s service.
In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them,
he found them ten times better
than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.
Responsorial Psalm
- (52b) Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”
R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.”
R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you on the throne of your Kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.”
R. Glory and praise for ever!
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
Reflection: TOTAL SURRENDER TO GOD
The feast of St. Cecilia, a saint much venerated in the Roman church, invites us to reflect on the total dedication of a simple and innocent soul to God. St. Cecilia has been presented as the patron of musicians. Except for the fact that she was an historical figure, much of what is said about her is good and pious expressions of the faithful down through the centuries. Why people build such a veneration around a person whose life story is not certain. The very idea of living totally for God and in the presence of God is something that attracted the people. St. Cecilia valued her virginity not as giving up something that was legitimate, but a sign of her total belongingness to God her Creator. In the first reading of today, we listened to the behaviour of Daniel and his friends, who abstained from the food and the wine served from the king's ration and lived on vegetables and water. It is not what they abstained that make them great, but they loved God more than food. In the Gospel passage we read the Lukan version of the widow's mite (offering) that is being praised by Jesus. She put into the treasury "all she had to live on.” The words of Jesus refer to the total abandonment of the widow on the providence of God. What makes the widow's mite attractive and inspiring is this total abandonment to the providence of God. Relying on Divine Providence smacks of laziness and it is a testing of God. But all said and done, nothing that we have is ours. Everything that we have and everything that we acquire comes from God. The invitation and challenge of the gesture of the widow is to have the grace to understand and accept that all we are and all we have come from God!