MAXIMILIAN KOLBE AND HIS SELFLESS LIFE
First Reading: Deuteronomy 10:12-22
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 147:12-15,19-20
Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:22-27
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Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a resolute figure in the Christian historical trajectory, emerged as an embodiment of love, compassion, and total commitment to Christ. In commemorating his life and legacy, we are invited to immerse ourselves in today’s readings in order to understand his resolute journey in service to God and humanity.
The First Reading presents us with the exhortation to fear the Lord and to walk in His ways. This relates deeply to the life and examples of Saint Maximilian Kolbe. His total commitment to Christ and humanity was resolute, reflecting the call to love the Lord with all one’s heart and soul. Just as Moses emphasized God’s care for the vulnerable, Saint Maximilian’s actions bore witness to the power of selflessness. His choice to lay down his life for a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz reveals the same spirit of compassion depicted in this passage. Consequently, the Psalmist’s celebration of God’s favour upon Jerusalem and His healing touch finds a poignant reflection in Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s life. Like the Lord who heals the brokenhearted, Kolbe’s commitment to serving his fellow prisoners and offering solace amidst suffering poignantly exemplifies God’s love in action. His life now mirrors the psalm of restoration, illustrating the themes of healing and renewal found within these verses. And in the Gospel, we hear Jesus’ prediction of His own death and resurrection, a precursor to His ultimate sacrifice for humanity. Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s life parallels this narrative, as he willingly embraced the cross of self-sacrifice. His actions echo Christ’s call to transcend earthly concerns and serve others selflessly. In his ultimate sacrifice, Kolbe’s life became a living alliance to the Gospel message of giving oneself for the sake of others, mirroring the essence of this Gospel passage.
Dear friends in Christ, in contemplating the life of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe through the lens of today’s readings from Deuteronomy, Psalms, and the Gospel of Matthew, we encounter a juxtaposition of faith, love, and courage. As we remember him today, may we emulate his resilient and altruistic spirit, recognizing that our lives can be transformed into embodiments of Christ’s love, as we live out the lessons taught by Christ and handed down to the Church. In a world that often echoes with discord, Saint Maximilian’s life pulsates with the harmonious melody of selfless love. It beckons us to reflect on our own lives, inviting us to weave the threads of compassion, dedication, and metamorphosis into the essence of our existence.
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Shalom!
© Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Paroquia Nossa Senhora de Loreto, Vila Medeiros, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
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