Today's reading records the beginning of the persecution "when terrible affliction was upon Israel." Resistance to the persecution was vigorous and heroic, and the result was that, at least for at time, the people gained religious and political freedom.

Persecution and oppression were not new to the Jews. They had experienced it in Egypt and later in Babylon during their exile there. Nor is such treatment unknown to the Church both in the past and even now in certain countries. Motives for such persecutions are varied and sometimes unexplainable. We can say that a certain blindness comes over those in power, but unlike the blind man in the gospel they seem to have no wish to see clearly the meaning and purpose of religion.

The truth is that we ourselves run the danger of being blind to the fact that we are being persecuted and opposed in our religion. We will not be imprisoned for practicing our faith, nor will we face martyrdom. The opposition is more subtle, and therefore more dangerous. The truth is that we live in a society in which many values are just the opposite of the teaching of Jesus. And they influence us and have as much force as a sword or gun to turn us away from our faith.

The word of God we hear helps to give us proper values and the Eucharist we receive gives us the strength to put that word into practice.