Today at Holy Mass in the first reading we hear in the Book of Maccabees a story about a well liked old man named Eleazar…….The tyrannical state government at the time was trying to force this man to give up his religion…..The interesting aspect of this story to me is…The people who were ordered to kill Eleazar, both knew and liked him…They did not want to kill him and tried to “go easy on him”…..Eleazar refused!……And because he did….I am writing about him today……Only saints change the world
“Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, a man of advanced age and noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork. But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement, he spat out the meat, and went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture, as people ought to do who have the courage to reject the food which it is unlawful to taste even for love of life. Those in charge of that unlawful ritual meal took the man aside privately, because of their long acquaintance with him, and urged him to bring meat of his own providing, such as he could legitimately eat, and to pretend to be eating some of the meat of the sacrifice prescribed by the king; in this way he would escape the death penalty, and be treated kindly because of their old friendship with him. But Eleazar made up his mind in a noble manner, worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age, the merited distinction of his gray hair, and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood; and so he declared that above all he would be loyal to the holy laws given by God.
He told them to send him at once to the abode of the dead, explaining: “At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense; many young people would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion. Should I thus pretend for the sake of a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age. Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and generously for the revered and holy laws.”
Eleazar spoke thus, and went immediately to the instrument of torture. Those who shortly before had been kindly disposed, now became hostile toward him because what he had said seemed to them utter madness. When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned and said: “The Lord in his holy knowledge knows full well that, although I could have escaped death, I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging, but also suffering it with joy in my soul because of my devotion to him.” This is how he died, leaving in his death a model of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue not only for the young but for the whole nation.”
I am 55 years old…I can remember when I was a little boy - Like it was yesterday…....Time goes by so fast….As does the lifespan of each of us…We are here one minute and gone the next…….When I ponder upon the time we are given by God and think just how short that amount of time is, even if we are fortunate to live to a ripe old age - I think how mankind “trades in” the gift of life for “dust”….For things that mean nothing - How do I know they mean nothing? - Because they are forgotten as quickly as they are achieved or acquired - No one cares and no one remembers….The long and short of it - We short change ourselves, trying to “live up” to the standards of a fading world…..God offers something so much more…Something so great…....The invitation is made each and every day…To strive to live a holy life…..The famous French Catholic novelist Leon Bloy put it this way…… "The only real tragedy in life is not to become a saint”……..I believe when we die and stand before God, we will see all the things that we chased after in this life…….And all the “things” the world valued…..When we look at them from that stand point, standing next to God and the gates of heaven...…We will see them for what they truly are….And when these “things” are juxtaposed next to the the things of heaven...Our eyes will "open" in a way they were never opened before…..The goal is to “open” our eyes now!……....We were not called to live a “comfortable life”….......We were called, each of us, to something so much more…......To do something beautiful for God….These are the “things” that last and are remembered - Don't believe me? - Our good friend Eleazar in the story I just recalled in this reflection is living proof of what I just noted - Here we are still talking about him…....The “trick” is to see "the pearl of great price" for what it is now!….Not later, when we stand before God…And see just how much time we wasted…….Its never to late to start…..So start now!………..JMJ
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