"Do not be afraid of this executioner, but be worthy of your brothers and accept death, so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them" (2 Maccabees 7:29).The readings for today continue the second Book of Maccabees and continues the theme of martyrdom. Except in this case, we see the model for all parents in the mother of seven sons. They are brought all before the executioner, because of their faithfulness to God's covenant and each of them are killed. After the first six brothers are killed, they try to convince the youngest brother to renounce the faith. He doesn't renounce his faith, mainly due to the influence of his mother.
She tells him to, "not be afraid...but be worthy of your brothers and accept death." This mother knows what is truly important: God's law. As a good parent, we should never waver in our instruction of our children. Even if we are all brought together to suffer for the faith, we should always encourage our children to die rather than disobey God. This is so important, especially in today's society where we are too often attached to our children and want to please them above all things.
Next, the mother reveals why she is so hopeful for her son, "so that in the time of mercy I may recieve you again with them." She, a Jew, knows about the resurrection of the dead. She realizes that if a just person dies following God's commands, that person does not perish forever. Therefore, this mother holds onto the hope of the resurrection and knows that she will be reunited to her sons if they are all faithful. If her son rejects the faith now, she will lose her son forever. Death is not what will take her son from her, but sin will.
Let us then be good parents and encourage our children, even in the face of persecution to run the race and choose God over sin. For if they choose sin, we shall loose them forever.
