Daily Readings August 14, 2012

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr


St. Maximillian Kolbe, the Saint from Auswitz,  was a priest and martyr of Church who is known for sacrificing himself in order that a father with a family might live.  

Near the end of July (1941), a prisoner apparently escaped, and men from Kolbe's bunker were paraded in the blazing midday sun, knowing what to expect. One man from each line was selected at random, including a sergeant, Francis Gajowniczek. He cried out in a despairing voice, "My wife, my children, I shall never see them again!" Then a man stepped out from the ranks and offered to take Gajowniczek's place. He was prisoner 16670, Father Maximilian Kolbe. The SS man, "Butcher" Fritsch, did not care who went to the Bunker, so long as there were ten of them, so he nodded. "Who are you?" he asked carelessly. "I am a Catholic priest. I wish to die for that man. I am old; he has a wife and children." Father Kolbe and the nine others were led off to the death chamber of Cell 18. (My hero).

Lectionary: 414

Reading 1 

Ez 2:8-3:4

The Lord GOD said to me:As for you, son of man, obey me when I speak to you:be not rebellious like this house of rebellion,but open your mouth and eat what I shall give you.

The Lord spoke to Ezekiel and said, "Obey Me.  Don't be like the rest of the Israelites who continually rebel against me.  Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.

It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me,in which was a written scroll which he unrolled before me.It was covered with writing front and back,and written on it was:Lamentation and wailing and woe!

A hand was then extended to me with a written scroll in it.  The Scroll contained much writing and I also saw the words "Lamentation and wailing and woe!" 

He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you;eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel.

And God said to me, eat this scroll and then go speak to the Israelites.

So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat.Son of man, he then said to me,feed your belly and fill your stomachwith this scroll I am giving you.I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

So I ate it and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.

He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel,and speak my words to them.

and God said, Son of man, now go to the people of Israel and speak to them my words.

Ezekiel is here called a Son of man.  A title which Jesus later took to Himself.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131

Response. (103a) How sweet to my taste is your promise!

In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

How sweet to my palate are your promises,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Your decrees are my inheritance forever;
the joy of my heart they are.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

I gasp with open mouth,
in my yearning for your commands.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

What is this promise to which the Psalm refers?  The promise of salvation.  God promised the Jews that they would be saved if they kept His commands:

Exodus 20:6
King James Version (KJV)
⁶ And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

He makes the same promise to us:

John 14:21-23
King James Version (KJV)
²¹ He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.²² Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?²³ Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Gospel Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

The disciples approached Jesus and said,"Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"

The disciples wanted to know who is the greatest in heaven.

He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Jesus gave them an unexpected reply.  They probably expected to see an example of power and authority like Abraham, Moses, David or Solomon. But instead they were told that if they were not as humble and trusting as a little child, they would not even enter heaven.

Whoever becomes humble like this childis the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

In fact, Jesus tells them, the greatest in the Kingdom of His Father must be the humblest.  As humble as a little child.

And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

And then Jesus united Himself to every innocent on earth by saying that anyone who receives one as this little child, receives Him.  We can compare this to Matt 25:31-46, where Jesus says that which we do for those who are hungry, naked and imprisoned, we do for Him.

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones,for I say to you that their angels in heavenalways look upon the face of my heavenly Father.

Then He says that the Guardian Angels of each child stand before the face of God, therefore we should care for every little child on earth.

What is your opinion?If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hillsand go in search of the stray?

Jesus then asks a rhetorical question.  He asks, "won't a shepherd who loses one sheep out of a hundred, leave the 99 and go search for the stray?"

And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over itthan over the ninety-nine that did not stray.

"Yes," Jesus answers His own question.  "He will.  And not only that, but he will rejoice over that one more than over the 99."

In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Fatherthat one of these little ones be lost."

"In the same way," He says, "God our Father does not will that any of His little ones be lost."

We can compare this teaching to that which St. Paul says:

1 Timothy 2:4
King James Version (KJV)
⁴  (God) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 Sincerely,

De Maria