1 Maccabees 5:45-54: a reflection

45Judas gathered together all Israel, those who were in the land of Gilead, from the least to the greatest, with their wives, their children, and their stuff, an exceedingly great army, that they might come into the land of Judah. 46They came as far as Ephron, and this same city was large and very strong. It was on the road where they were going. They couldn’t turn away from it on the right hand or on the left, but needed to pass through the middle of it. 47The people of the city shut them out and blocked the gates with stones. 48Judas sent to them with words of peace, saying, “We will pass through your land to go into our own land, and no one will harm you. We will only pass by on our feet.” But they wouldn’t open to him. 49Then Judas commanded proclamation to be made in the army, that each man should encamp in the place where he was. 50So the men of the army encamped, and fought against the city all that day and all that night, and the city was delivered into his hands. 51He destroyed all the males with the edge of the sword, razed the city, took its plunder, and passed through the city over those who were slain. 52They went over the Jordan into the great plain near Bethshan. 53And Judas gathered together those who lagged behind and encouraged the people all the way through, until he came into the land of Judah. 54They went up to mount Zion with gladness and joy, and offered whole burnt offerings, because not so much as one of them was slain until they returned in peace.

As Judas leads all the people of Gilead, from the least to the greatest, with their families and possessions, on the long journey home through hostile territory, he takes care that none are lost. He gathered together those who lagged behind and encouraged the people all the way through, until he came into the land of Judah. He did not press ahead and leave the stragglers behind; he gathered those who fell behind and encouraged the whole company along the way, so that not one of them was lost, and they came home with joy. His care extended to the weakest, the slowest, those who lagged; he left no one behind.

Notice how Judas cared for the stragglers, leaving no one behind. On a long and dangerous journey, it would have been easy to press ahead with the strong and let the stragglers fend for themselves; but Judas gathered those who lagged behind and encouraged the whole company, taking care of the weakest and slowest. He did not leave the stragglers to be lost; he gathered them, encouraged them, brought them along, so that all came home safely. His leadership cared for the whole flock, not only the strong, ensuring that even those who fell behind were gathered and brought home. The care for the stragglers was the mark of his leadership.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to care for the stragglers, not to leave the weak behind. In any group we lead or belong to, there are those who lag behind, the weak, the slow, the struggling; and it is easy to press ahead and leave them, caring only for those who can keep up. But Judas gathered the stragglers and encouraged the whole company, leaving no one behind. We are called to care for the weak and struggling, not to leave them behind. Do not press ahead and leave the weak and struggling behind; gather the stragglers and encourage them along, as Judas cared for those who lagged and brought all home. Care for the stragglers, the weak, and the struggling, not leaving them behind but gathering and encouraging them along the way, as Judas gathered those who lagged and brought all the people safely home; for we are called to care for the whole flock, not only the strong, and to leave no one behind who can be gathered and helped along.

Lord, as Judas leads all the people of Gilead, from the least to the greatest, with their families and possessions, on the long journey home through hostile territory, he takes care that none are lost. He gathered together those who lagged behind and encouraged the people all the way through, until he came into the land of Judah. He did not press ahead and leave the stragglers behind; he gathered those who fell behind and encouraged the whole company, so that not one of them was lost, and they came home with joy. Show me how Judas cared for the stragglers, leaving no one behind. On a long and dangerous journey, it would have been easy to press ahead with the strong and let the stragglers fend for themselves; but Judas gathered those who lagged behind and encouraged the whole company. He did not leave the stragglers to be lost; he gathered them, encouraged them, brought them along, so that all came home safely. His leadership cared for the whole flock, not only the strong. Take that to my heart, for I am called to care for the stragglers, not to leave the weak behind. In any group I lead or belong to, there are those who lag behind, the weak, the slow, the struggling; and it is easy to press ahead and leave them. But Judas gathered the stragglers and encouraged the whole company. Keep me from pressing ahead and leaving the weak and struggling behind; help me gather the stragglers and encourage them along, Lord, as Judas cared for those who lagged and brought all home, that I may care for the whole flock and leave no one behind.