June 8, 2013 – Maccabees 2 – 2:38
When he is given the chance to break God's law, it is not just to break the law, but is enticed with power and fame.  If you go against your beliefs, you will be among the king's friends.  How many politicians have started out on a road paved with good intentions and been misdirected with promises of greater power.  How many "Catholic" politicians have abandoned their faith in attempts to move up the ladder.  Here we see that standing your ground and sticking with God is the right way, and the hard way.  
Is there a more vivid demonstration of martyrdom in the Bible than this scene.  A group of people gathers and an army comes upon them.  The army attacks them on the Sabbath and instead of fighting back, they are slaughtered.  This entire group would rather die following God than even defend themselves.  And if you use that scene to argue that we should all be pacified in God's eyes, how do you explain the just fury that was aroused in the slaying of the man that was going to sacrifice to the false god.  There is a just fury in God, a time to strike down that which is evil, but there is also a time to sit and take the strife of the world.  Both are allowed and approved by God in their right time.  Keep that in mind when someone says you shouldn't act out because you are Catholic or when they say you must act.  There is time when each may be required, it is not only one way that is always the right way.