Tuesday, August 13, 2013

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 14-08-13

Duet 34:1-12 / Matthew 18:15-20

The number 16670 may not have much significance for us, nor does it have any meaning whatsoever in our modern world.

But going back 72 years ago, on the 28th May 1941, when a man was transferred to Auschwitz prison, he was given a number - 16670, and he was known as prisoner #16670.

That man was Fr. Maximillian Kolbe, and he was arrested by the Nazis for harbouring Jews from the German invasion in his priory in Poland.

While he was in prison, three prisoners disappeared from the camp, prompting the deputy camp commander, to pick 10 men to be starved to death in an underground bunker in order to deter further escape attempts.

When one of the selected men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, "My wife! My children!", Kolbe volunteered to take his place.

In that underground bunker, Kolbe celebrated Mass each day and prayed with the rest of the nine condemned prisoners and encouraged them with the hope of heaven.

After two weeks of dehydration and starvation, only Kolbe remained alive and the guards gave him a lethal injection to put him to death.

It was just another case of the atrocities that happened at the Auschwitz prison. But it was a story of faith and courage, love and sacrifice.

That is what we are celebrating as we remember St. Maximillian Kolbe and his sacrifice for another human being.

And as Jesus said in the gospel, where two or three are gathered in His name, He will be there. And we can see it clearly that St Kolbe was a sign of the presence of Jesus to the nine condemned men as they awaited their death.

May we follow the example of St. Maximillian Kolbe and be a presence of Jesus for others and be for them a sign of faith and courage, love and sacrifice.