2 Maccabees 2:19-32: a reflection

19Now the things concerning Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers, the purification of the greatest temple, the dedication of the altar, 20and further the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes and Eupator his son, 21and the manifestations that came from heaven to those who fought with one another in brave deeds for the religion of the Jews; so that, being but a few, they seized the whole country, chased the barbarous multitudes, 22recovered again the temple renowned all the world over, freed the city, and restored the laws which were about to be overthrown, seeing the Lord became gracious to them with all kindness. 23These things which have been declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will attempt to abridge in one book. 24For having in view the confused mass of the numbers, and the difficulty which awaits those who would enter into the narratives of the history, by reason of the abundance of the matter, 25we were careful that those who choose to read may be attracted, and that those who wish us well may find it easy to recall, and that all readers may benefit. 26Although to us, who have taken upon ourselves the painful labor of the abridgement, the task is not easy, but a matter of sweat and sleeplessness, 27even as it is no light thing to him who prepares a banquet, and seeks the benefit of others. Nevertheless, for the sake of the gratitude of the many we will gladly endure the painful labor, 28leaving to the historian the exact handling of every particular, and again having no strength to fill in the outlines of our abridgement. 29For as the masterbuilder of a new house must care for the whole structure, and again he who undertakes to decorate and paint it must seek out the things fit for its adorning; even so I think it is also with us. 30To occupy the ground, and to indulge in long discussions, and to be curious in particulars, is fitting for the first author of the history; 31but to strive after brevity of expression, and to avoid a labored fullness in the treatment, is to be granted to him who would bring a writing into a new form. 32Here then let’s begin the narration, only adding this much to that which has already been said; for it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue to the history, and to abridge the history itself.

In the prologue to his history, the writer describes the labor he is undertaking, and why. He is condensing a much longer work into one book, and he acknowledges the toil: to us, who have taken upon ourselves the painful labor of the abridgement, the task is not easy, but a matter of sweat and sleeplessness. Yet he takes it on gladly, for the benefit of his readers: for the sake of the gratitude of the many we will gladly endure the painful labor. He undertakes the hard work not for his own ease but for the good of others, gladly bearing the toil so that his readers might benefit.

Notice the writer's willingness to bear hard labor for the benefit of others. He does not minimize the difficulty; the work is sweat and sleeplessness, painful labor. Yet he takes it on gladly, and the reason is the good of others: that his readers might benefit, might find it easy to recall and profit from. He compares himself to one who prepares a banquet for the benefit of others, taking on the labor for their sake. His hard work was undertaken not for his own gain or ease, but gladly, for the good of those who would read. He bore the toil willingly, for others' benefit, counting the labor worth it for the good it would do them.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can gladly take on hard labor for the benefit of others. We can shrink from hard work, especially work that benefits others more than ourselves, or do it grudgingly; but the writer gladly took on the painful labor of his work for the good of his readers, counting it worth the toil. There is a gladness in bearing hard labor for the benefit of others, in serving them through our work even at cost to ourselves. Do not shrink from hard labor that benefits others, or do it grudgingly; take it on gladly, for their good, as the writer bore the toil of his work for his readers' benefit. Gladly take on hard labor for the benefit of others, serving them through your work even at cost to yourself, as the writer bore the sweat and sleeplessness of his abridgement for the good of his readers; for there is a gladness in bearing toil for others' benefit, and work undertaken for the good of others is worth the labor it costs us.

Lord, in the prologue to his history, the writer describes the labor he is undertaking, and why. He is condensing a much longer work into one book, and he acknowledges the toil: to us, who have taken upon ourselves the painful labor of the abridgement, the task is not easy, but a matter of sweat and sleeplessness. Yet he takes it on gladly, for the benefit of his readers: for the sake of the gratitude of the many we will gladly endure the painful labor. He undertakes the hard work not for his own ease but for the good of others. Show me the writer's willingness to bear hard labor for the benefit of others. He does not minimize the difficulty; the work is sweat and sleeplessness. Yet he takes it on gladly, and the reason is the good of others: that his readers might benefit. He compares himself to one who prepares a banquet for the benefit of others, taking on the labor for their sake. His hard work was undertaken not for his own gain or ease, but gladly, for the good of those who would read. Take that to my heart, for I too can gladly take on hard labor for the benefit of others. I can shrink from hard work, especially work that benefits others more than myself, or do it grudgingly; but the writer gladly took on the painful labor of his work for the good of his readers. There is a gladness in bearing hard labor for the benefit of others. Keep me from shrinking from hard labor that benefits others, or doing it grudgingly; help me take it on gladly, Lord, for their good, as the writer bore the toil of his work for his readers' benefit, serving them through my work even at cost to myself.