Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe Ezek 2:8-3:4 Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131 Matt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

“Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:4

I’ll admit that when I saw whose feast day it is I vaguely recalled that Maximilian Kolbe was a really well-loved saint who had something to do with World War II.  So, like any good child of my generation would do, I googled him to find out a bit more. The bits that I read made me think that the readings for today are very fitting for this man.

For those of you who, like me, know the name Maximilian Kolbe but cannot put a story with that name, suffice it to say that he is famous for voluntarily sacrificing himself in order to save a complete stranger.  He helped hide thousands of Jews in Poland during the terrorizing reign of Nazism, and was sent to Auschwitz for it.  While in the camp, the Nazis selected several men to be killed to set an example for all the prisoners, and Saint Maximilian voluntarily gave himself to replace one of those men who had a family. 

Here was a man who humbled himself so much that he saw the lost sheep in all of us.  I think he recognized, as children do so well, the goodness in all people.  He saw as children see: stripping away all the labels, stereotypes, and prejudices that our society paints people with.

Let us pray today to be humbled, so that we too may see with the eyes of children, and love with a heart like Saint Maximilian Kolbe.

“Following Jesus is simple, but not easy.  Love until it hurts, and then love more.”
– Mother Teresa