SETTING AN EXAMPLE

2 Maccabees 6:24-28 (not in the Protestant Bible)

“For to pretend such things,” he said, “is not worthy of our time of life, lest many of the young should suppose that Eleazar in his ninetieth year has gone over to a foreign religion, and because of my pretense for the sake of living a brief moment longer, they should be led astray through me, while I earn only pollution and defilement in my old age. For even if for the present I should avoid the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die, I shall not escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore by manfully giving up my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age, and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death willingly and bravely for the venerable and holy laws.”

After he said this, he went straight to the rack,

Personal Challenge

The example that we set for those in our lives is the most profound statement that we may ever make. Eleazar was a scribe in the temple of his day. He was ninety years old. King Antiochus was forcing the Jews to be Helenistic, which included worshiping the Greek gods and participating in their rituals. Part of the ritual was eating food sacrificed to these gods. Those who refused were tortured and put to death. Eleazar was being threatened by an Athenian Senator who had been sent to Jerusalem to convert or persecute the Jews. When it was clear to Eleazar’s friends that he would not submit, they came up with a plan to substitute the profaned food with Kosher food so that Eleazar world survive. They told him that no one would know. This passage is his response. He chose to die rather than appear to submit and fake it. He knew that he would set the wrong example for those whom he loved and cared for. We must choose this same approach with our lives to truly be followers of Christ. Lord have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

BETTER FOR US TO DIE

1 Maccabees 3:59-60 (not in the Protestant Bible)

“For it is better for us to die in war than to look upon the evils the Gentiles would bring to us and the sanctuary. But as God’s will is in heaven, so He will do.”

Personal Challenge

How willing are we, am I, to stand firm on the belief that we, I, have? The Maccabees, like so many of the martyrs throughout history, were willing to stand firm on their profession of their faith, even to the point of death. We have been blessed as a people of faith for quite some time now and we may be surprised if we ever get truly tested for our faith. That day may be coming, if it is not already here. Are we, am I, are you, willing to tell the acuser that we are a follower of Christ, and will never renounce that. Are we, am I, are you, willing to do what Jesus commanded us to do regardless what another, especially an authoritarian government says to us, or threatens us with. This is being able to proclaim that it is better to die than to betray our Lord and his expectations of us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

HEMMED IN

1 Maccabees 3:18-19 (not in the Protestant Bible)

Then Judas said, “It is easy to hem in many at the hands of a few, and it makes no difference before heaven to save with many or with few. For victory in battle does not come from the size of the army, but from the might of heaven.”

Personal Challenge

Our world, especially our nation, is filled with chaos. Wars and rumors of wars abound. Rampant lies and misinformation fill the airwaves. Fascism and other forms of authoritarinism is taking hold of countries around the world. People and organizations proclaiming to be Christian are doing and saying things that would cause Jesus to weep. We are all feeling hemmed in by all this chaos, and as if we will never win the battle of sanity. Judas Macabeus led a ragtag army against an enormous and well equiped military regime that was visciously oppressing his people. He knew though that if he and his as army were staying true to the calling of their God, that God’s army would supplement his. We too can rest in the truth that if we are standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, the widow, the orphan, the naked, the poor, the foreigner amongst us, then we are fighting a war that God is fighting a well. We are not alone. We are not hemmed in. Lord, have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

BE ZEALOUS AND REMEMBER

1 Maccabees 2:50-51 (not in the Protestant Bible)

Therefore, children, be zealous for the law, and offer your lives for the covenant of our fathers; and remember the deeds our fathers did in their generations, and receive great honor and an everlasting name.

Personal Challenge

Even though this passage was written in Old Testament times and was challenging us to be zealous for the law, it still applies to us today. Jesus told us that He fulfilled the law and then ushered in a new covenant based on love. In that case, we are called to be zealous for Jesus and the love for God and our neighbor that He has commanded us to live out. We are not to be zealous for rubrics or traditions. They are helpful for our worship, but not for our salvation. We are also encouraged to remember the deeds of our fathers, those who have gone before us, protecting and forming our church of today. We are to honor and follow 2,000 years of teaching and martyrdom for Christ. Glory be to God!

Saint of the Week

St. Paisios of Mt. Athos

SERVING GOD

Esther 4:13-16

And Mordecai said to Hathach, “Go and say to Esther, ‘Do not say to yourself that you alone will be saved in the kingdom apart from all the other Jews. For if you choose not to heed this request at this time, help and deliverance for the Jews will arise elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. Besides, who knows whether it is for this occasion you reign as queen?’ ” Then Esther dispatched the one who came to her to Mordecai, saying, “Go and assemble together the Jews in Susa. Fast for me; do not eat or drink for three full days and three full nights. I and my maids will also fast. Then I will go to the king, contrary to the law, even if I am to perish.”

Personal Challenge

God accomplishes His will for mankind through His followers here on earth. He never forces us to do His work. He gives us opportunities to serve Him and lets us choose whether or not we want to act. If we choose not to He will ask another until He finds someone willing. This story in Esther is one of those cases. Mordecei, Esther’s uncle, has found out about a plan to kill all the Jews in the kingdom. Esther is the queen of the kingdom. It is unknown that she is a Jew. Mordecai is asking her to go to the king to reveal the plan and save the Jews. There is one problem. The law of the land is that anyone, including the queen, who seeks to see the king without his asking for it, is immediately sentenced to death. Esther chooses to do this regardless of the consequences. It is an awesome story… read it. Our personal challenge is to determine how God is calling us today to serve Him. It may be to stand between and ICE agent and an immigrant. Are you, am I, willing to do that? It may be standing up for someone being harrassed or bullied. What will be our response? Our relationship with God is reflected in our willingness to serve Him when He calls upon us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

HE IS…

Judith 9:11 (not in the Protestant Bible)

“For Your might is not in numbers, nor Your power in men who are strong, but You are the God of the lowly; You are the helper of the oppressed, the defender of the weak, the protector of those who are forsaken, the savior of those without hope.”

Encouraging Words

After challenging the leaders of her community for putting God to a test, Judith chose to take it upon herself to rescue the community and ultimately all of Israel, from Holerfenes and his vast army. This verse is part of her prayer uttered before going into the enemy’s camp to slay their leader. Judith reminds us that God always does His miracles outside of our scope of thinking and understanding. God does not need great numbers of military might or powerful men to do His work. He uses common people like you and me to accomplish great miracles. He is the God of the lowly, the helper of the oppressed, the defend of the weak, the protector of the forsaken, the savior of those without hope. If we are to proclaim that we are followers of Christ, then these are the people that we need to be serving in humility. Glory be to God!

BE AN EXAMPLE

Judith 8:24-25 (not in the Protestant Bible)

“Now my brothers, let us set an example for our people, for their very lives depend upon us. Furthermore, the sanctuary, the temple, and the altar rest upon us. Besides all this, let us be thankful to the Lord our God, who is testing us just as He did our fathers.”

Personal Challenge

Judith admonishes the leaders of her community to be an example to the people that live there and to submit to the test that God has brought upon them. This is so important for those of us who choose to be followers of Christ. As His representatives in this world we must submit to Him and live in a way that demonstrates who Jesus is and that He loves everyone. We are seeing the opposite of this so much today by so many people who proclaim to be Christians. You cannot cheer when the foreigners amongst us get arrested and deported and proclim Christ. You cannot delight in wars and abuses and insurrections and proclaim Christ. You cannot cover up or participate in peclophilia, rape, theft, corruption, and acts of hatred and proclaim Christ. Lord have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

WHILE WE WAIT

Judith 8:17 (not in the Protestant Bible)

“Therefore, while we await His deliverance, let us call upon Him to help us, and if it pleases Him He will hear our voice.”

Personal Challenge

We are so used to instant gratification that we live our relationship with God with the expectation that He will answer our prayer as soon as we finish uttering it. It does not work that way. God is not our supernatural vending machine. He is also not a genie in the bottle waiting to grant our wishes. Why does God wait to answer our prayers? He knows that so often what we are asking for is not in our best interest. By waiting it gives time to reconsider our options, our needs versus our wants, and to understand what might be in our best interest. His waiting gives us time to change our minds, our will, to be in alignment with His. Glory be to God!

WHO CAN SEARCH OUT GOD?

Judith 8:14 (not in the Protestant Bible)

You cannot plumb the depths of the heart of man, nor grasp the thoughts of his mind. How then do you expect to search out God, who made all these things, and come to understand His mind or comprehend His purpose? No, brothers! Do not provoke the Lord our God to anger.

Personal Challenge

No one, no matter how well educated or equipped with life experiences, can plumb the depths of the heart of man. Only God can. No one can grasp the thoughts within another man’s mind. Only God can. God is eternal and infinite. We are finite and limited. When we attempt to act or speak as if we believe we are God, we provoke His anger. Lord, have menrcy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!