It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Holding fast, a reflection on 4 Maccabees 10

After the second brother died, the third was led in. Many urged him to save himself by eating meat. He answered them, "I have the same father they did and the same mother, I was brought up on the same teachings."

They tortured him but could not break his spirit. When he was about to die, he said, "We are suffering now, but you, because of your bloodthirstiness, will undergo unceasing torments."

When he died, the fourth brother was brought in and given the same choice. He responded, "You do not have a fire hot enough to make me play the coward."

The king got tired of hearing this kind of talk and ordered that his tongue be cut out. The brother responded, "Even if you remove my organ of speech, God hears also those who are mute; therefore, you will not make our reason speechless."

Do holders of the majority religion feel that holders of minority religion are heretics? How is heresy a threat to the nation?

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