Day 294: Judea Gains Independence

1 Maccabees 13:1-30 Simon, the last of the Maccabean brothers, rallied the people against the threat of Trypho’s army. Trypho set a ransom price for Jonathan but did not release him after the ransom was paid. Trypho circled Simon’s army seeking a military advantage, but in the end he killed Jonathan and retreated without a battle. Jonathan received a burial with great honor. 


Ch 13:31-53 Trypho killed Antiochus and assumed his throne. Simon made peace with Demetrius, who agreed to cede control of Israel and remove all taxes, tributes, and debts. Through Simon’s leadership, Israel was completely liberated and would enjoy independence for a while. 


Sirach 32:1-13 The prudent manners required of a host refer to the recurrent themes covered in this book: humility, discernment, generosity, and wisdom in speech. 


Ch 32:14-24 The fourth section of this book, which focuses on the fear of the Lord and its role in wisdom, begins here. Fear of the Lord, one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, is the awe and reverence with which we should regard God. If we possess true fear of the Lord, then we will embrace his will eagerly and avoid near occasions of sin.


Ch 33:1-18 The wise person carefully discerns good from evil, a practice tremendously aided by habitually keeping the Law. The wise person realizes that God will provide us with strength and deliverance if we call upon him in times of trial and temptation. Hence, the final position of the Lord’s Prayer: “Deliver us from evil” (Mt. 6:13). (CCC 2750)


Ch 33:19-31 Whether as a head of a family or as one who supervises subordinates, good leadership requires prudence and wisdom. (CCC 2434-2436)

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)


Simon 

(*Walking With God: A Journey Through The Bible by Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins)



Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven we give you praise. We thank you so much for this day. We thank you for your Word. We thank you for the thousandth day in a row. We thank you for your Wisdom that just guides us and calls us to belong to you and calls us to live not foolishly, to live wisely. We ask you to please guard our thoughts and guard our minds that everything we say and everything we think may be true, may be true things, may be good things, may be helpful things, and wise things. May everything we do give you glory, Father, and help our brothers and sisters around us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”