What an Old Testament Jew Can Teach Us about Not Giving Scandal

          Last week, I wrote [https://www.catholic365.com/article/56364/what-todays-gospel-says-about-sin.html ] about the sin of scandal: how by our bad example we can alienate others from the good.  Today’s First Reading [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111825.cfm ]  illustrates that point.

          Maccabees describes a period in Jewish history around 180 BC when pagans ruled Israel and attempted, in the name of “progress” and “civilization” to Hellenize it.  One way of doing that was to force Jews to abandon their religious practices, e.g., observation of the kosher laws.  That’s apparent in today’s reading, where nonagenarian Eleazar is being force-fed pork. 

          The scandal comes from those who want Eleazar to engage in some dissimulation: bring your own beef, we’ll pretend it’s pork so that you’re released and freed from torture.  Your conscience will be clear and the rulers satisfied.  Everybody’s happy, right?!

          Eleazar says: “wrong.”  He hasn’t lived so long to be a stumbling block to others, to confuse those of weaker faith to compromise about it.  He says he hasn’t lived this long to save his neck for a few more days at the cost of the convictions that guided that life.  He recognizes: by the time a man is a certain age, he ought to have a backbone.  Even if others want to break it.

          He refuses and gives his life for his faith, knowing full well he could have prevented this by an act of simulation but fully wanting to maintain his authenticity.  He is an example for us Christians, especially when we consider we have been strengthened in our convictions by the gift of the Holy Spirit we received in Confirmation.