December 15, 2011 – 2 Maccabees 3

We are suppose to see a correlation with the two dazzling men here that perform these acts and the two dazzling men at the Resurrection. I found it interesting that the apparitions, as they are described can physically harm someone. We get the sense from thinking about ghost and the like that they are just visions or air, but these two whipped the leader severely. I was also reflecting on the idea of allowing someone to do something bad in order to stop someone else from doing something worse. Here, they thought if the stopped one, the bigger fish would come and do worse. We often explain away our actions by reasoning that the ends justify the means. I was just reading about this in an interview with Pope Benedict, before he was Pope. He called it consequentialism or in a lesser degree proportionalism. We can justify anything we do as long as the end is a good or the end is of a greater proportion to the bad that is done. What this does and take God out of the picture.

We may think that the end is good, but if we sacrifice our morals to get there, we have gained nothing. If you feel that he end is good and the will of God, then the means to get there must also be in accord with God and His teachings. If you think that the only way for you to get there is to do bad, then you are separating yourself from God. All things are possible with God, so why do you think the only way to get to your end is through bad acts. This does not measure with God. Here we see Israel letting something happen that is wrong because they think it will be beneficial in the long run, but they are wrong and God must step in. The ends justifies the means is never a valid argument for achieving the will of God if you have to go against God’s goodness to get there.