1 Maccabees 14:16-20: a reflection

16It was heard at Rome that Jonathan was dead, and even in Sparta, and they were exceedingly grieved. 17But as soon as they heard that his brother Simon was made high priest in his place, and ruled the country and the cities in it, 18they wrote to him on brass tablets to renew with him the friendship and the alliance which they had confirmed with his brothers Judas and Jonathan. 19These were read before the congregation at Jerusalem. 20This is the copy of the letter which the Spartans sent: “The rulers and the city of the Spartans, to Simon the high priest, to the elders, the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, our kindred, greetings.

When word reaches Rome and Sparta that Jonathan has died, they are grieved; and when they hear that his brother Simon has taken his place, they write to renew the friendship and alliance they had made with his brothers before. The bond of friendship did not die with Jonathan; it continued, renewed with Simon, and the Spartans greet Simon and his people as kindred. The friendship endured beyond the one who had made it, carried on with his successor, a bond that outlasted the individual.

Notice that the friendship endured beyond the individual, renewed and continued. Jonathan, who had made the alliance, had died; but the friendship did not die with him. It was renewed with his brother Simon, continued across the change, a bond that outlasted the one who had first made it. The friends grieved Jonathan's death, but did not let the friendship die; they renewed it, carrying it on. Good bonds of friendship and alliance can endure beyond the individuals who begin them, continued and renewed across the generations.

That is worth taking to heart, for good relationships and bonds are meant to endure and be renewed, not to die with a change of persons. We can let good relationships lapse when circumstances change, or when those who began them are gone; but the friendship with Jonathan was renewed with Simon, enduring beyond the individual. Good bonds of friendship, alliance, and covenant are worth continuing and renewing across changes, not letting them die when circumstances or persons change. Value and renew the good bonds you have, continuing them across changes rather than letting them lapse, as the friendship with Jonathan was renewed with Simon after his death; for good relationships are meant to endure, renewed across the generations, and are worth carrying on beyond the individuals who first made them, as the alliance was renewed and the Spartans greeted Simon and his people as kindred.

Lord, when word reaches Rome and Sparta that Jonathan has died, they are grieved; and when they hear that his brother Simon has taken his place, they write to renew the friendship and alliance they had made with his brothers before. The bond of friendship did not die with Jonathan; it continued, renewed with Simon, and the Spartans greet Simon and his people as kindred. The friendship endured beyond the one who had made it. Show me that the friendship endured beyond the individual, renewed and continued. Jonathan, who had made the alliance, had died; but the friendship did not die with him. It was renewed with his brother Simon, a bond that outlasted the one who had first made it. The friends grieved Jonathan's death, but did not let the friendship die. Good bonds can endure beyond the individuals who begin them. Take that to my heart, for good relationships and bonds are meant to endure and be renewed, not to die with a change of persons. I can let good relationships lapse when circumstances change, or when those who began them are gone; but the friendship with Jonathan was renewed with Simon. Good bonds of friendship, alliance, and covenant are worth continuing and renewing across changes. Help me value and renew the good bonds I have, Lord, continuing them across changes rather than letting them lapse, as the friendship with Jonathan was renewed with Simon.