Note: On Tuesdays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
Eleazar, one of the scribes in high position, a man now advanced in age and of noble presence, was being forced to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh. But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with pollution, went up to the rack of his own accord, spitting out the flesh, as all ought to go who have the courage to refuse things that it is not right to taste, even for the natural love of life. Those who were in charge of that unlawful sacrifice took the man aside because of their long acquaintance with him, and privately urged him to bring meat of his own providing, proper for him to use, and to pretend that he was eating the flesh of the sacrificial meal that had been commanded by the king, so that by doing this he might be saved from death, and
be treated kindly on account of his old friendship with them. But making a high resolve, worthy of his years and the dignity of his old age and the gray hairs that he had reached with distinction and his excellent life even from childhood, and moreover according to the holy God-given law, he declared himself quickly, telling them to send him to Hades. (2 Maccabees 6:18-23, NRSVCE)
So, Eleazar. Would there really have been anything wrong with that little bit of underhandedness that was recommended to him? He wouldn’t have actually eaten the pork, after all; he would have just allowed the king to think so. Surely, his family and friend and community would have understood. Who wants to die a martyr’s death when the price of staying alive on earth to do good works is so low?
Except, of course, the price wasn’t that low. Eleazar knew it. When we begin to deceive others in the name of survival, we also deceive ourselves… and welcome in evil.
You see, the loyalty the Lord demands doesn’t change when we’re eighteen, twenty-one, thirty-five, sixty, or eighty. He’s consistent that way, even when we think we deserve a pass given our gray hairs, creaking knees and expanding waistlines. There’s not one set of commandments for the young, another for the middle-aged, and a third for seasoned Christians.
We all move closer to physical death each day. Let’s resolve to hold fast to spiritual life as we do so.
