Is it a number?
Is it a place on a map, an image ingrained into the very fabric of
society, or an idea brought into the world so long, long ago. For me, it is a moment in time that has
forever changed my outlook on life. It
gives me much pause for reflection of a pure sacrifice, of a time when men
willingly gave their lives for a righteous cause and to the many sufferings
placed upon the human spirit. They asked
not for notoriety but to simply live their lives as Christ would have
envisioned, through service to their fellow man.
What continues to amaze me is the heart and pace
at which good is performed. We do not
read about it in the news or in a magazine.
It is something done in the middle of the night or in a whisper. We are as oblivious to its presence as we are
to the majesty of its action. But, it is
here, in our everyday lives and in the world in which we now exist. In our pressing need to have our lives so
polished and busy, we forget about those who are marginalized by society and
are in desperate need for the simple things in life – a warm smile, a heartfelt
embrace, a welcoming hand or a forgiving grace.
Such was the life of one man and in the
transforming power of his prayers. His
dedication to our mother Mary was a light by which others would follow. There are countless stories of how this ordinary
man became something much larger than himself.
Placed into situations by tragedy and happenstance, this man carried out
the miracle with a dose of adrenaline and heart. He was humbled by the sight of another and he
would say for us not to forget the countless others that gave their lives so
that he and we could carry out our own destiny.
Even the man he saved dedicated his life to carrying on the mantle of
servant, telling the story of his savior throughout the rest of his life.
Franciszek, a simple
polish sergeant, did not know at the time of his impending salvation. But isn’t that much like us, that we are
blind to the ways of the Lord and to the eternal world He represents. Perhaps that is how He wants it, because to Saint
Maximilian Kolbe it was the journey, not the destination, that dictated how he
approached his faith and in his total love for our mother Mary and Christ.
He was quoted as once saying that “the most
deadly poison of our time is indifference”.
It is true that when we pray, we lift up our hearts to Christ through
her intercession. This is something many
of us choose to ignore because the reality of not having a direct connection to
God is frightening. We are reluctant to
accept the fact that many voices can be united in a single prayer. Maximilian knew this to be true. In fact, he dedicated his life to this
pursuit.
The love of the divine was his greatest
achievement and his crowning glory. As
Jesus rose from the dead to become our redeemer, Maximilian stayed on earth
just long enough to become a redeemer for his fellow man. It is unfortunate that we will always be just
like #16670 to an ignorant few. But remember,
we are all one in the eyes of Christ.
May this Easter find you much joy. May Spring bring warm memories and may the
wind be forever at your backs. May His
peace and Maximilian’s peace be with you always.