1 Maccabees 14:21-27: a reflection

21The ambassadors who were sent to our people reported to us about your glory and honor. We were glad for their coming, 22and we registered the things that were spoken by them in the public records as follows: ‘Numenius son of Antiochus, and Antipater son of Jason, the Jews’ ambassadors, came to us to renew the friendship they had with us. 23It pleased the people to entertain the men honorably, and to put the copy of their words in the public records, to the end that the people of the Spartans might have a record of them. Moreover they wrote a copy of these things to Simon the high priest.’” 24After this, Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a great shield of gold weighing one thousand minas, in order to confirm the alliance with them. 25But when the people heard these things, they said, “What thanks shall we give to Simon and his sons? 26For he and his brothers and the house of his father have made themselves strong, and have fought and chased away Israel’s enemies, and confirmed liberty to Israel.” 27So they wrote on tablets of brass, and set them on pillars on mount Zion. This is the copy of the writing: “On the eighteenth day of Elul, in the one hundred seventy-second year, which is the third year of Simon the high priest,

The people gather to honor Simon, who with his brothers had faithfully served and defended Israel, driving away their enemies and securing their freedom. What thanks shall we give to Simon and his sons? they ask; and they record his deeds on tablets of bronze, setting them up publicly, so that his faithful service would be remembered and honored. They did not take his years of faithful labor for granted, but recognized it publicly with gratitude and honor.

Notice the people's response to faithful service: they recognized and honored it with gratitude. Simon and his family had served faithfully, at great cost, over many years; and the people did not simply take this for granted, but asked, what thanks shall we give?, and recorded his deeds publicly, honoring his faithful service. They saw the value of what he had done, and expressed their gratitude in a lasting way. Faithful service was recognized and honored, not overlooked.

That recognition of faithful service is worth imitating, for we often take faithful service for granted rather than honoring it. Those who serve faithfully, over years, at cost, in the church, in the community, in our own lives, often go unthanked, their labor taken for granted. But the people honored Simon, asking what thanks they could give, recognizing his faithful service with gratitude. Do not take for granted those who serve faithfully; recognize their labor, and honor it with gratitude, as the people honored Simon. Consider who has served you or others faithfully, often unthanked, and express your gratitude to them, recognizing the value of their faithful service. Faithful service deserves recognition and thanks; do not let those who serve faithfully go unthanked, but honor them, as the people honored Simon for his faithful service to Israel.

Lord, the people gathered to honor Simon, who with his brothers had faithfully served and defended Israel, asking, what thanks shall we give to Simon and his sons, and recording his deeds publicly so his faithful service would be remembered. Let their recognition of faithful service be something I imitate, for I often take faithful service for granted rather than honoring it. Those who serve faithfully, over years, at cost, in the church, in the community, in my own life, often go unthanked, their labor taken for granted. But the people honored Simon, asking what thanks they could give, recognizing his faithful service with gratitude. Keep me from taking for granted those who serve faithfully; help me recognize their labor, and honor it with gratitude, as the people honored Simon. Help me consider who has served me or others faithfully, often unthanked, and express my gratitude to them, recognizing the value of their faithful service. Faithful service deserves recognition and thanks; do not let me leave those who serve faithfully unthanked, Lord, but help me honor them, as the people honored Simon. Make me grateful, and quick to thank those who serve faithfully.