1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees, writings included in the Apocrypha, inform us of the political and spiritual tensions between the Jews of Jerusalem as they contend with the globalization of their day (ca 196 BCE).  Both books tell about the conflict that resulted from the efforts of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Syrian king, to create a multi-cultural society and the Jews' struggle to stay true to the Scriptures' teachings.  In addition to informing us of historical context leading to Jesus' life, these readings invite us to consider the timeless and universal challenges of holding firm to one's spiritual beliefs amid world-wide change.