1 Maccabees 2:49-60: a reflection

49The days of Mattathias drew near that he should die, and he said to his sons, “Now pride and scorn have gained strength. It is a season of overthrow and indignant wrath. 50Now, my children, be zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. 51Call to remembrance the deeds of our fathers which they did in their generations; and receive great glory and an everlasting name. 52Wasn’t Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness? 53Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and became lord of Egypt. 54Phinehas our father, because he was exceedingly zealous, obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. 55Joshua became a judge in Israel for fulfilling the word. 56Caleb obtained a heritage in the land for testifying in the congregation. 57David inherited the throne of a kingdom forever and ever for being merciful. 58Elijah was taken up into heaven because he was exceedingly zealous for the law. 59Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael believed, and were saved out of the flame. 60Daniel was delivered from the mouth of lions for his innocence.

As he nears death, the old priest Mattathias gathers his sons and urges them to be zealous for God and faithful to the covenant, whatever it costs. And to strengthen their courage, he recites a roll call of the faithful who had gone before: Abraham, tested and found faithful; Joseph, who kept the commandment in his distress; Phinehas, zealous for God; Joshua, David, Elijah, Daniel, and the three young men in the fiery furnace. Remember the deeds of our ancestors, he says; look at those who trusted God and were not put to shame.

Mattathias knew that courage grows from memory. When his sons faced their own trials, they would be strengthened by remembering that others had stood firm before them, had trusted God through testing, and had been honored for it. Each name he recites is a witness that faithfulness under pressure is possible, and that God does not abandon those who trust him. The examples of the faithful past become fuel for the faithful present.

This is a healthy practice for hard times. When you face testing and are tempted to give up, it strengthens you to remember those who went before, the faithful of Scripture and of your own life, who trusted God through their trials and were not put to shame. You stand in a long line of people who held firm, and their example says to you: it can be done, and God is faithful. Recall the deeds of the faithful when your own courage flags, and draw strength from the great company who trusted God before you.

Lord, Mattathias strengthened his sons for testing by recalling the faithful who had gone before, who trusted you and were not put to shame. When my own courage flags under trial, help me to remember them, the faithful of Scripture and of my own life, and to draw strength from their example. I stand in a long line of those who trusted you. Keep me faithful, as you kept them. Amen.