Friday 22 November

St Cecilia

1 Macc 4:36-37, 52-29, Cant. 1 Chron,
Luke 19:45-48

We can imagine the patron saint of singing joining in with the assembly in today’s first reading, “to the sound of zithers, harps and cymbals… prostrate in adoration, praising God to the skies. ... There was no end to the rejoicing among the people”. With the Maccabees, with St Cecilia, and with the People of God today our first duty and honour is to praise the God of Life, who protects us from our enemies, cleanses our personal and communal temples, and gives us a new beginning each day through the power of his Word.