An Open Letter from the Maccabees to the Pope - By Dr Geoffrey Brushwood
I wonder, what did Pope Francis, Cardinals Kasper, Marx, Baldisseri, Tagle, Maradiaga, Cupich, Daneels, Vincent, the two Malta bishops, Bishops Bruno Forte, Robert Barron, Fathers James Martin and Thomas Rossica et. al. and all those in the Church, who are keen to "reach an understanding with the pagans surrounding us" make of this reading?
I don’t know if any of them will read this article on GTV - they should, if they really want to smell like sheep. For what it’s worth, Your Holiness, Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, Reverend Fathers, here’s a simple Catholic layman’s emphasis, on 20th November reading: 1 Maccabees 1:10-15,41-43,54-57,62-64:
There grew a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus; once a hostage in Rome, he became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
It was then that there emerged from Israel a set of renegades who led many people astray. "Come," they said "let us reach an understanding with the pagans surrounding us, for since we separated ourselves from them many misfortunes have overtaken us." This proposal proved acceptable, and a number of the people eagerly approached the king, who authorized them to practice the pagan observances.
So, they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, such as the pagans have, disguised their circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant, submitting to the heathen rule as willing slaves of impiety.
Or read this bit as: It was then that there emerged from the Rhineland Church, a set of renegades who led many people astray. ‘Come,’ they said ‘let us reach an understanding with the pagans surrounding us, for since we separated ourselves from them many misfortunes have overtaken us.’ This proposal proved acceptable, and a number of Cardinals, Bishops and Priests eagerly approached the Pope, who called a Synod of the family and authorized them to practice the pagan observances.
So, they came up with a document called Amoris Lettuce, such as the pagans have, disguised their catholic doctrine, and abandoned Jesus’ teaching, submitting to the heathen rule as willing slaves of impiety
Maccabees continue:
Then the king issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each renouncing his particular customs. All the pagans conformed to the king’s decree, and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the sabbath. The king erected the abomination of desolation above the altar; and altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah and incense offered at the doors of houses and in the streets. Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practicing the Law, the king’s decree sentenced him to death.
Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food. They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant, and they were executed. It was a dreadful wrath that visited Israel.
