1 Maccabees 12:6-18: a reflection

6“Jonathan the high priest, and the senate of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to their kindred the Spartans, greetings. 7Even before this time letters were sent to Onias the high priest from Arius, who was reigning among you, to signify that you are our kindred, as the copy written below shows. 8Onias welcomed honorably the man who was sent and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of alliance and friendship. 9Therefore we also, even though we need none of these things, having for our encouragement the holy books which are in our hands, 10have undertaken to send that we might renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, to the end that we should not become estranged from you altogether; for a long time has passed since you sent your letter to us. 11We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and on the other convenient days, remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as it is right and proper to be mindful of kindred. 12Moreover, we are glad for your glory. 13But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encompassed us, and the kings who are around us have fought against us. 14We were unwilling to be troublesome to you, and to the rest of our allies and friends, in these wars; 15for we have the help which is from heaven to help us, and we have been delivered from our enemies, and our enemies have been humbled. 16We chose therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former alliance. 17We commanded them therefore to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of friendship and our brotherhood. 18And now you will do well if you give us a reply.”

This passage records a letter from Jonathan and the Jewish people to their distant kindred, the Spartans, renewing an old bond of friendship. Amid the diplomacy, one line stands out for its warmth: We at all times without ceasing, both at our feasts and on other suitable days, remember you in the sacrifices we offer and in our prayers, as it is right to be mindful of kindred. Across a great distance, with little practical benefit to gain, they held these distant friends before God in prayer, remembering them faithfully.

Notice the practice: remembering others in prayer, even those far off. They could do little for the Spartans directly, separated by great distance; but they could, and did, remember them before God, holding them in their prayers at their feasts and on ordinary days. It was an act of faithful love across the miles, a way of caring for those they could not reach, keeping the bond alive through prayer.

That is a quiet and faithful way to love people we cannot be near. We all have friends, family, and others far off, separated by distance, whom we can do little for directly. But we can remember them before God, holding them in prayer, keeping the bond alive across the miles. Do not underestimate the love of remembering someone in prayer. When you cannot be near those you care about, when you can do little else for them, you can still do this: remember them before God faithfully, at your prayers, on ordinary days. It is a real and faithful way of loving those you cannot reach.

Lord, the people of Israel remembered their distant kindred the Spartans faithfully in their prayers and sacrifices, holding across a great distance those they could do little else for. Teach me that faithful love. I have friends, family, and others far off, separated by distance, whom I can do little for directly; help me remember them before you, holding them in prayer, keeping the bond alive across the miles. When I cannot be near those I care about, when I can do little else for them, let me still do this: remember them faithfully before you, at my prayers and on ordinary days. Make the remembering of others in prayer a real and steady way that I love those I cannot reach.