First Reading1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
From the First Book of Maccabees
10There came out of them a sinful root,Antiochus Epiphanes,son of Antiochus the king,who had been a hostage at Rome,and he reigned in the one hundred thirty seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11In those days transgressors of the law came out of Israel and persuaded many,saying, “Let’s go make a covenant with the Gentiles around us;for since we were separated from them many evils have befallen us.”12That proposal was good in their eyes.13Some of the people eagerly went to the king,and he authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles.14So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the laws of the Gentiles.15They made themselves uncircumcised,forsook the holy covenant,joined themselves to the Gentiles,and sold themselves to do evil.
verses 16–40 are not read41King Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdomthat all should be one people,42and that each should forsake his own laws.All the nations agreed according to the word of the king.43Many of Israel consented to his worship,sacrificed to the idols,and profaned the Sabbath.
verses 44–53 are not read54On the fifteenth day of Chislev,in the one hundred forty fifth year,they built an abomination of desolation upon the altar,and in the cities of Judah on every side they built idol altars.55At the doors of the housesand in the streets they burned incense.56They tore up the books of the lawwhich they found and set them on fire.57Anyone who was found with any book of the covenant,and if any consented to the law,the king’s sentence delivered him to death. verses 58–61 are not read62Many in Israel were fully resolvedand confirmed in themselves not to eat unclean things.63They chose to die,that they might not be defiled with the food,and that they might not profane the holy covenant;and they died.