2 Maccabees 9:1-12: a reflection

1Now about that time, Antiochus retreated in disorder from the region of Persia. 2For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and he attempted to rob a temple and to control the city. Therefore the multitudes rushed in and the people of the country turned to defend themselves with weapons; and it came to pass that Antiochus was put to flight by the people of the country and broke his camp with disgrace. 3While he was at Ecbatana, news was brought to him about what had happened to Nicanor and the forces of Timotheus. 4Being overcome by his anger, he planned to make the Jews suffer for the evil deeds of those who had put him to flight. Therefore, with judgment from heaven even now accompanying him, he ordered his charioteer to drive without ceasing until he completed the journey; for he arrogantly said this: “I will make Jerusalem a common graveyard of Jews when I come there.” 5But the All-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him with a fatal and invisible stroke. As soon as he had finished speaking this word, an incurable pain of the bowels seized him, with bitter torments of the inner parts— 6and that most justly, for he had tormented other men’s bowels with many and strange sufferings. 7But he in no way ceased from his rude insolence. No, he was filled with even more arrogance, breathing fire in his passion against the Jews, and giving orders to hasten the journey. But it came to pass moreover that he fell from his chariot as it rushed along, and having a grievous fall was tortured in all of the members of his body. 8He who had just supposed himself to have the waves of the sea at his bidding because he was so superhumanly arrogant, and who thought to weigh the heights of the mountains in a balance, was now brought to the ground and carried in a litter, showing to all that the power was obviously God’s, 9so that worms swarmed out of the impious man’s body, and while he was still living in anguish and pain, his flesh fell off, and by reason of the stench all the army turned with loathing from his decay. 10The man who a little before supposed himself to touch the stars of heaven, no one could endure to carry because of his intolerable stench. 11Therefore he began in great part to cease from his arrogance, being broken in spirit, and to come to knowledge under the scourge of God, his pains increasing every moment. 12When he himself could not stand his own smell, he said these words: “It is right to be subject to God, and that one who is mortal should not think they are equal to God.”

The story of Antiochus, who had exalted himself against God, ends with a humbling. This man had thought himself more than mortal, imagining he could command the sea and weigh the mountains, arrogantly setting himself up as though equal to God. But he is struck down, brought low, and in his suffering comes at last to a recognition he had refused: It is right to be subject to God, and that one who is mortal should not think they are equal to God. The arrogant man who had exalted himself as more than mortal is brought to acknowledge his creatureliness, that he is mortal, not God, and ought to be subject to the God he had defied.

Notice the recognition Antiochus is brought to: that he is mortal, not equal to God. He had forgotten his creatureliness, exalting himself as though more than human, as though equal to God; but his fall brought him to acknowledge the truth he had denied: that a mortal should not think himself equal to God. He was, after all, only mortal, a creature, subject to the God he had defied; and in his humbling he came to see it. The arrogance that forgets we are mortal, that exalts itself against God, is folly; the truth is that we are creatures, mortal, rightly subject to God. Antiochus came to acknowledge, too late, the creatureliness he had denied in his pride.

That is worth taking to heart, for we do well to recognize our creatureliness, that we are mortal and not equal to God, before we are humbled to it. We can, in smaller ways, forget our creatureliness, exalt ourselves, presume upon our own strength as though we were more than mortal, more than dependent creatures; but the truth is that we are mortal, creatures, rightly subject to God, as Antiochus was brought to acknowledge. It is wisdom to recognize this before we are humbled to it. Do not forget your creatureliness, exalting yourself as though more than mortal; recognize that you are a creature, mortal, rightly subject to God. Recognize humbly that you are a creature, mortal and not equal to God, rightly subject to him, rather than exalting yourself in pride, as Antiochus was brought to acknowledge only through his humbling that a mortal should not think himself equal to God; for we are creatures, mortal and dependent, rightly subject to God, and it is wisdom to recognize our creatureliness before him rather than to exalt ourselves in pride.

Lord, the story of Antiochus, who had exalted himself against you, ends with a humbling. This man had thought himself more than mortal, imagining he could command the sea and weigh the mountains, arrogantly setting himself up as though equal to you. But he is struck down, brought low, and in his suffering comes at last to a recognition he had refused: it is right to be subject to God, and that one who is mortal should not think they are equal to God. The arrogant man who had exalted himself is brought to acknowledge his creatureliness, that he is mortal, not God. Show me the recognition Antiochus is brought to: that he is mortal, not equal to you. He had forgotten his creatureliness, exalting himself as though more than human; but his fall brought him to acknowledge the truth he had denied: that a mortal should not think himself equal to you. He was, after all, only mortal, a creature, subject to you whom he had defied. The arrogance that forgets we are mortal, that exalts itself against you, is folly; the truth is that we are creatures, rightly subject to you. Take that to my heart, for I do well to recognize my creatureliness, that I am mortal and not equal to you, before I am humbled to it. I can, in smaller ways, forget my creatureliness, exalt myself, presume upon my own strength as though I were more than a dependent creature; but the truth is that I am mortal, rightly subject to you, as Antiochus was brought to acknowledge. It is wisdom to recognize this before I am humbled to it. Keep me from forgetting my creatureliness, exalting myself as though more than mortal; help me recognize that I am a creature, mortal, rightly subject to you, Lord, before I am humbled to it, rather than exalting myself in pride.