1 Maccabees 12:1-5: a reflection

1Jonathan saw that the time was favorable for him, so he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them. 2He also sent similar letters to the Spartans, and to other places. 3They went to Rome, entered into the senate house, and said, “Jonathan the high priest and the nation of the Jews have sent us to renew for them the friendship and the alliance, as in former time.” 4They gave them letters to the men in every place, that they should provide safe conduct for them on their way to the land of Judah. 5This is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:

Jonathan, seeing a favorable time, sends envoys to renew the friendship and alliance the Jews had with Rome and Sparta, as in former times. He does not let these valuable relationships lapse or grow cold; he takes the initiative to renew them, sending to confirm the friendship and alliance again. He maintains and renews the relationships that had served his people, keeping them alive rather than letting them fade.

Notice what Jonathan does: he renews friendships and relationships, rather than letting them lapse. The friendships and alliances his people had were valuable; and Jonathan did not take them for granted or let them grow cold, but took the initiative to renew them, to keep them alive and strong. He recognized the value of these relationships, and tended them, renewing them rather than neglecting them. Valuable relationships require tending and renewing, not neglect; and Jonathan tended his.

That is worth taking to heart, for valuable relationships, left untended, can grow cold and lapse. We can take our friendships and relationships for granted, neglecting them, letting them fade for lack of tending; and lose what was valuable through simple neglect. But Jonathan took the initiative to renew the relationships that served his people, keeping them alive. Do not take your valuable relationships for granted, letting them grow cold through neglect; take the initiative, as Jonathan did, to tend and renew them, to keep them alive and strong. Friendships and relationships require tending; reach out, renew, maintain the relationships that matter, rather than letting them lapse through neglect. Jonathan renewed the friendships that served his people; tend and renew your own valuable relationships, taking the initiative to keep them alive, rather than neglecting them and losing, through simple neglect, what tending would have kept.

Lord, Jonathan, seeing a favorable time, sent envoys to renew the friendship and alliance the Jews had with Rome and Sparta, as in former times; he did not let these valuable relationships lapse or grow cold, but took the initiative to renew them. Show me what Jonathan did: he renewed friendships and relationships, rather than letting them lapse. The friendships his people had were valuable; and he did not take them for granted or let them grow cold, but tended and renewed them. Valuable relationships require tending and renewing, not neglect. Take that to my heart, for valuable relationships, left untended, can grow cold and lapse. I can take my friendships and relationships for granted, neglecting them, letting them fade for lack of tending; and lose what was valuable through simple neglect. But Jonathan took the initiative to renew the relationships that served his people. Keep me from taking my valuable relationships for granted, letting them grow cold through neglect; help me take the initiative, as Jonathan did, to tend and renew them. Friendships and relationships require tending; help me reach out, renew, maintain the relationships that matter, rather than letting them lapse through neglect. Help me tend and renew my valuable relationships, Lord, taking the initiative to keep them alive, rather than losing through neglect what tending would have kept.