Whose side are you on?

August 14, 2017

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

Lectionary: 413

DT 10:12-22

PS 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

MT 17:22-27

During this time of extreme tension in our world politically and socially, perhaps no other martyr’s feast day could be more apropos than that of St. Maximilian Kolbe.  Maximilian was a priest who became a prisoner in the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz during the war.  At one point a prisoner escaped which infuriated the guards.  In response, they declared that ten other men would be starved to death to prevent others from doing the same.  During the process of choosing one man fell to his knees begging the guard to let him live.  This man had five children.  Who would take care of them?  Help them live through this?  Maximilian stepped forward and offered himself in the place of that man.  

Many days later all of the prisoners had died except Father Kolbe.  Eventually, the Nazis tired of his longevity and put him to death using chemicals in a syringe.  Saint Maximilian Kolbe embodies everything that we need in this world right now.  He reminds us of exactly what the cruelty of racism can do to an entire people.  The Nazis are the epitome of racism.  Even in the face of that hatred, in the darkest of all places, Saint Kolbe stepped forward to be a light.  He showed that the life of a Catholic involves dying to self and helping others to live.  In the first reading, the Sacred Scriptures remind us that God does not have favorites.  He cannot be bribed.   He loves all people.  Especially though, the poor, widows, orphans, and aliens.  

Like Maximilian, our goal as Catholics should be to bring life.  You and I are likely not going to have the opportunity to martyr ourselves in a concentration camp somewhere.  Yet, can we not learn from the same lesson?   Can we not learn to die spiritually to our own wants and needs to bring about the good for another?  To lead them to eternal life even if it costs us the pleasures and comforts of our own dreams and desires? In a world that is hurting, pointing blame at so many others, we have a special calling to be there to help alleviate that suffering.  That might be as simple as stopping to listen instead of replying with a harsh word.  Avoiding defending the right of some to do what they have done, instead of comforting the one who was hurt by it.  Reaching out, most especially the immigrants in our midst and being there to help them get on their feet.

Jesus in the Gospel points out that He has no reason, nor does Peter, to pay the tax.  They are exempt from it as part of who they are.  Yet, because they do not want others to believe they are against the temple, they will pay it immediately.  I think this reminds us too that sometimes we have to swallow our own pride.  That yes, there are times we don’t owe it to another to apologize, especially for something that we didn’t do.  Should we apologize for something that occurred decades or centuries ago?  If it will prevent a scandal and help others to draw closer to God?  Yes.   Apologize away.  Swallow your pride.  Love the other, and help heal the broken bonds of humanity that lead us to such places.  There is no place for racism in the Church.  Nor for hatred of the poor or the need to serve them.   

St. Augustine said that one of the primary rules for interpreting scripture is this:  Let Go and love your neighbor.   If you read it and get something else?  If it leads you to hate someone or some kind of person?  You read it wrong.  That is so important for us in learning to be like Saint Maximilian, ready to give up our own life, our own wants and needs, that someone else might be brought to life.  Like Mary at the wedding of Cana who declared “Do whatever he tells you,” we too should be simply signposts that point to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.