November 20. Vincent, a parishioner who had been asked to provide some background to the Scripture readings explained, “Contained in the two books of Maccabees is not only history but also theological reflections that had developed during these late Old Testament times. These became articles of Faith that we Catholics and some other Christians profess in our Creed. ‘I believe in the Communion of the Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.’ The Jewish people had to come to this understanding of life after death over time.  Some aspects of our theology continue to develop even though we sometimes think it was all cut and dried from the beginning. Others fear a loss of tradition and faith in some of the recent statements of Pope Francis.”   When King Antiochus heard that the Jews had grown strong and routed his armies and that the abomination which he had erected upon the altar in Jerusalem had been torn down he was badly shaken.  He said, “I now remember the evils I did in Jerusalem,  I know that it is because of this that these evils have come upon me.”  1 Mac 6:1-13. Pope Francis:   Evangelisation is the task of the Church, which is foremost a people advancing on its pilgrim way towards God. The history of the Church shows that Christianity does not have simply one cultural expression but, rather, remaining completely true to itself with unswerving fidelity to the proclamation of the Gospel and the tradition of the Church, it will also reflect the different faces of the cultures and peoples in which it is received and takes root.  EG 116