2 Maccabees 6:24-31: a reflection

24“For it doesn’t become our years to dissemble,” he said, “that many of the young should suppose that Eleazar, the man of ninety years, had gone over to an alien religion; 25and so they, by reason of my deception, and for the sake of this brief and momentary life, would be led astray because of me, and I defile and disgrace myself in my old age. 26For even if for the present time I would remove from me the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die, I wouldn’t escape the hands of the Almighty. 27Therefore, by bravely parting with my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age, 28and leave behind a noble example to the young to die willingly and nobly a glorious death for the revered and holy laws.” When he had said these words, he went immediately to the instrument of torture. 29When they changed the good will they bore toward him a little before into ill will because these words of his were, as they thought, sheer madness, 30and when he was at the point to die with the blows, he groaned aloud and said, “To the Lord, who has the holy knowledge, it is manifest that, while I might have been delivered from death, I endure severe pains in my body by being scourged; but in soul I gladly suffer these things because of my fear of him.” 31So this man also died like this, leaving his death for an example of nobleness and a memorial of virtue, not only to the young but also to the great body of his nation.

Eleazar, a man of ninety, is pressed to save his life by pretending to eat forbidden food. But he refuses, not only for his own sake, but for the sake of the young who look to him. It doesn't become my years to dissemble, he says, lest many of the young suppose that Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion, and so, by reason of my deception, be led astray because of me. He would not, even to save his life, set an example that might mislead the young; he chose death rather than lead them astray by a compromise.

Notice what weighed on Eleazar: the example he would set for the young. He might have saved his life by a mere pretense; but he considered the young who looked to him, and how his compromise, even a pretended one, might lead them astray. He would not, for the sake of his own life, set an example that would mislead those who watched him. The weight of his example on the young was such that he chose death rather than mislead them; he would leave them a noble example rather than a corrupting one.

That is worth taking to heart, for the example we set weighs on others, especially those who look to us. Others watch us, the young, those who look up to us, those who follow our lead; and our example, for good or ill, shapes them. We can compromise, telling ourselves it affects only us; but our example affects those who watch, as Eleazar considered the young who looked to him. Consider the weight of the example you set for those who look to you; do not compromise as though it affected only yourself, for your example shapes others. Set a good example for those who watch you, especially the young, mindful that your compromise could mislead them, as Eleazar refused to mislead the young even at the cost of his life; for the example we set weighs on others, and we are responsible for how it shapes those who look to us.

Lord, Eleazar, a man of ninety, is pressed to save his life by pretending to eat forbidden food. But he refuses, not only for his own sake, but for the sake of the young who look to him. It doesn't become my years to dissemble, he says, lest many of the young suppose that Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion, and so be led astray because of me. He would not, even to save his life, set an example that might mislead the young. Show me what weighed on Eleazar: the example he would set for the young. He might have saved his life by a mere pretense; but he considered the young who looked to him, and how his compromise might lead them astray. He would not, for the sake of his own life, set an example that would mislead those who watched him. He chose death rather than mislead them. Take that to my heart, for the example I set weighs on others, especially those who look to me. Others watch me, the young, those who look up to me, those who follow my lead; and my example, for good or ill, shapes them. I can compromise, telling myself it affects only me; but my example affects those who watch. Help me consider the weight of the example I set for those who look to me; keep me from compromising as though it affected only myself, for my example shapes others. Help me set a good example for those who watch me, Lord, especially the young, mindful that my compromise could mislead them, as Eleazar refused to mislead the young even at the cost of his life.