November 21st, 2003, Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A reading from the second book of Maccabees.

Eliezer, one of the foremost scribes, a man of advanced age and noble appearance,

was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork.

But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement, he spat out the meat, and went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture, as people ought to do who have the courage to reject the food, which it is unlawful

to taste even for love of life. Those in charge of that unlawful ritual meal took the man aside

privately, because of their long acquaintance with him, and urged him to bring meat of his own providing,

such as he could legitimately eat, and to pretend to be eating some of the meat of the sacrifice prescribed by the king.

In this way, he would escape the death penalty and be treated kindly because of their old friendship with him.

But Eliezer made up his mind in a noble manner, worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age,

the merited distinction of his gray hair, and of the admirable life he had lived

from childhood.

And so he declared that above all, he would be loyal to the holy laws given by God.

He told them to send him at once to the abode of the dead, explaining,

At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense.

Many young people would think the 90-year-old Eliezer had gone over to an alien religion.

Should I thus pretend for the sake of a brief moment

of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring shame and dishonour on my old age?

Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men,

I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hands of the Almighty.

Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now,

I will prove myself worthy of my old age,

...