17 November 2021

I will not obey the king’s command, but I obey the command of the law that was given to our ancestors through Moses. But you, who have contrived all sorts of evil against the Hebrews, will certainly not escape the hands of God.

From 2 Maccabees 7:1,20-31, NRSV

In yesterday’s reading we heard of the martyrdom of Eleazar – an elderly and respected teacher of the Law. Today we hear about the similar treatment of a group of seven young brothers. Like Eleazar, these young men were arrested and then had pig’s meat forced on them. Each of the brothers withstood the torture of whips and scourges rather than break the Jewish Law. When only the youngest still survived, the king attempted to persuade him with promises of wealth and status if he would abandon the traditions of his ancestors. When the young man took no notice of these promises, the king urged his mother to talk to him and persuade him to save his life. The mother, having already witnessed the deaths of six of her sons, pretended to do as the king had suggested but in fact did the opposite, She spoke to her son in the Hebrew language which the king would not have understood, and persuaded her only remaining son to prove himself worthy of his brothers and of his faith. The young man continued his refusal to follow the king’s command and was put to death after warning the king that he would face the consequence of his actions before God.

• • Why do you suppose the king went to such lengths to try and persuade the youngest son to follow his command?
  • What is your experience of being called to make sacrifices in order to remain true to your beliefs? 

Reflect on what you might do to foster and encourage faith in the young people known to you.