Giving one's life for another

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who, in the concentration camp, gave his life for the sake of a man who was destined for death. This man had a family and Maximilian, a Franciscan friar, ask the "executioners" that he be allowed to replace this family man. The same heroic decision and unselfish giving of self for the sake of another occurred in Aurora, Colorado, when several young men shielded their girlfriends from gunfire and in Oak Creek, WI when the pastor shielded his parishioners. Every day, men and women, from all walks of life, all sexual orientations, all cultures, courageously follow the Spirit's direction to spare others from harm, to protect a child from abuse, even from being neglected and ignored; to save others from natural disasters and from violence in our streets and homes.

You and I may choose a direction that is heroic and about which only we know. In other words, our choices do not attract national attention but we know we have been courageous in what we have done or not done out of concern for another person. May God continue to give us that kind of courage on a daily basis as we live our lives according to the Gospels.

Is it really the Lord? Is God really at work?

Today’s readings, for me, are about utter dependence upon and trust of God and God’s eternal faithfulness to humankind.  The first reading deals with political disasters—the Assyrians invade the Northern Kingdom, destroy the city and drive the people into exile.  In the Gospel, the disciples’ boat is on the verge of capsizing in a turbulent sea.  Out of nowhere, between 3:00-6:00 a.m., Jesus, though not recognized, is seen walking on the sea, coming toward the boat.  They cry out: “It is a ghost.” Jesus responds: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”  Peter says: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Peter starts out, doubts, almost drowns and cries out: “Lord, save me!” 

What lessons for you and me!  The world is in no better shape than when the Assyrians invaded the Northern Kingdom.  We have nations rising up against nations to this very day, destroying cities, driving people out of their homelands. Personal disasters also touch every person’s life, multiple times, it seems. This is life “in this vale of tears.”

Like Peter, we have the option of crying out to the Lord: “Lord, save us.”  And He will.  We also know in faith, that, as in the Old Testament, God is a warrior who fights for us, who comes to our aid, and is close to the brokenhearted who seek Him above all and in all and through all.  Evil will not triumph, even though it may look that way. With the author of psalm 89, we pray:  “O Lord, you have been our refuge through all generations. Before the mountains were begotten and the earth and the world were brought forth, from everlasting to everlasting you are God!”