tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020960402708303830.post5616847546660825602..comments2024-03-27T07:30:21.457-04:00Comments on BLCKDGRD: Refuse Refuge RefuseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020960402708303830.post-62728279664075427482017-11-21T12:58:20.487-05:002017-11-21T12:58:20.487-05:00speaking of "refuse" as in refuse to do ...speaking of "refuse" as in refuse to do something, here's a quite vivid account of something said to have happened centuries ago, that the USCCB emailed me this morning, about faithfulness to one's principles and an unwillingness to give a false impression:<br /><br />2 Mc 6:18-31<br />Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes,<br />a man of advanced age and noble appearance,<br />was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork.<br />But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement,<br />he spat out the meat,<br />and went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture,<br />as people ought to do who have the courage to reject the food<br />which it is unlawful to taste even for love of life.<br />Those in charge of that unlawful ritual meal took the man aside privately,<br />because of their long acquaintance with him,<br />and urged him to bring meat of his own providing,<br />such as he could legitimately eat,<br />and to pretend to be eating some of the meat of the sacrifice<br />prescribed by the king;<br />in this way he would escape the death penalty,<br />and be treated kindly because of their old friendship with him.<br />But Eleazar made up his mind in a noble manner,<br />worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age,<br />the merited distinction of his gray hair,<br />and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood;<br />and so he declared that above all<br />he would be loyal to the holy laws given by God.<br /><br />He told them to send him at once<br />to the abode of the dead, explaining:<br />"At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense;<br />many young people would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar<br />had gone over to an alien religion.<br />Should I thus pretend for the sake of a brief moment of life,<br />they would be led astray by me,<br />while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age.<br />Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men,<br />I shall never, whether alive or dead,<br />escape the hands of the Almighty.<br />Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now,<br />I will prove myself worthy of my old age,<br />and I will leave to the young a noble example<br />of how to die willingly and generously<br />for the revered and holy laws."<br /><br />Eleazar spoke thus,<br />and went immediately to the instrument of torture.<br />Those who shortly before had been kindly disposed,<br />now became hostile toward him because what he had said<br />seemed to them utter madness.<br />When he was about to die under the blows,<br />he groaned and said:<br />"The Lord in his holy knowledge knows full well that,<br />although I could have escaped death,<br />I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging,<br />but also suffering it with joy in my soul<br />because of my devotion to him."<br />This is how he died,<br />leaving in his death a model of courage<br />and an unforgettable example of virtue<br />not only for the young but for the whole nation.mistah charley, ph.d.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06303695341246058680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020960402708303830.post-84181998349214919162017-11-21T11:02:56.609-05:002017-11-21T11:02:56.609-05:00I watched all that happen in real time. Cool!I watched all that happen in real time. Cool!Jim H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02088100982761595050noreply@blogger.com