Judith 10:11-17: a reflection

11They went straight onward in the valley. The watch of the Assyrians met her; 12and they took her, and asked her, “Of what people are you? Where are you coming from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am a daughter of the Hebrews. I am fleeing away from their presence, because they are about to be given you to be consumed. 13I am coming into the presence of Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of truth. I will show him a way that he can go and win all the hill country, and there will not be lacking of his men one person, nor one life.” 14Now when the men heard her words, and considered her countenance, the beauty thereof was exceedingly marvelous in their eyes. They said to her, 15“You have saved your life, in that you have hurried to come down to the presence of our master. Now come to his tent. Some of us will guide you until they deliver you into his hands. 16But when you stand before him, don’t be afraid in your heart, but declare to him what you just said, and he will treat you well.” 17They chose out of them a hundred men, and appointed them to accompany her and her maid; and they brought them to the tent of Holofernes.

To deliver her people, Judith undertakes something that requires great courage: she walks straight into the enemy camp, into the presence of Holofernes, the commander whose army threatens her city. She goes into the midst of danger, unarmed but for her resolve, entering the very stronghold of the enemy, risking her own life for the sake of her people. It would have been far safer to stay behind the walls; but Judith went into the danger, putting herself at risk, because her people's deliverance required it. Her courage carried her into the enemy camp, into peril, for the sake of others.

Notice the courage of Judith to enter danger for her people's sake. She did not stay in safety behind the city's walls; she went out and into the enemy camp, into the presence of the commander, into great peril, putting her own life at risk. The safety of her people required someone to go into the danger, and Judith went. Her courage was not recklessness but resolve, a willingness to risk herself for the sake of others, to enter the peril that their deliverance demanded. She walked into the enemy stronghold, into danger, because her people needed it. The willingness to enter danger for the sake of others marked her courage; she risked herself where staying safe would have failed her people.

That is worth taking to heart, for we may be called to enter danger or difficulty for the sake of others, rather than staying safe. There are times when the good of others requires someone to enter danger, difficulty, or risk, to put themselves forward where staying safe would fail those who need them, as Judith went into the enemy camp for her people. We can prefer to stay safe, leaving the risk to others; but there is a courage that enters danger for the sake of others. When the good of others requires it, do not always stay safe; be willing, when called, to enter danger or difficulty for their sake, as Judith went into the enemy camp for her people. Be willing, when the good of others requires it, to enter danger or difficulty for their sake rather than staying safe, as Judith walked into the enemy camp at the risk of her life for her people's deliverance; for there is a courage that risks itself for others, and there are times when staying safe would fail those who need us, and love calls us to enter the danger for their sake.

Lord, to deliver her people, Judith undertakes something that requires great courage: she walks straight into the enemy camp, into the presence of Holofernes, the commander whose army threatens her city. She goes into the midst of danger, unarmed but for her resolve, entering the very stronghold of the enemy, risking her own life for the sake of her people. It would have been far safer to stay behind the walls; but Judith went into the danger, because her people's deliverance required it. Show me the courage of Judith to enter danger for her people's sake. She did not stay in safety behind the city's walls; she went out and into the enemy camp, into great peril, putting her own life at risk. The safety of her people required someone to go into the danger, and Judith went. Her courage was not recklessness but resolve, a willingness to risk herself for the sake of others. She walked into the enemy stronghold because her people needed it. Take that to my heart, for I may be called to enter danger or difficulty for the sake of others, rather than staying safe. There are times when the good of others requires someone to enter danger, difficulty, or risk, to put themselves forward where staying safe would fail those who need them, as Judith went into the enemy camp for her people. I can prefer to stay safe, leaving the risk to others; but there is a courage that enters danger for the sake of others. When the good of others requires it, keep me from always staying safe; help me be willing, when called, to enter danger or difficulty for their sake, Lord, as Judith went into the enemy camp for her people's deliverance.