August 14, 2015

Max

August 14, 2015:  St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

See nine connections with today?
Legend below

Listen





    Animate
    (but not the dance)
  • Jos 24:1-13  Joshua to Israelites:  “The Lord says:   Your fathers served other gods, but I led Abraham through Canaan, made his descendants numerous, and gave him Isaac, to whom I gave Jacob and Esau.  I sent Moses and Aaron, smote Egypt, and led you out.  I brought you to the land of the Amorites; they fought you, but I destroyed them.  Then Balak prepared to war. and I saved you.  Once you came to Jericho, they fought you, but I delivered them into your power and sent hornets to drive them out. I gave you a land you hadn't tilled and cities you hadn't built; you've eaten of vineyards and groves you didn't plant.”

  • Ps 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22, 24  "His mercy endures forever."  Give thanks to the Lord, God of gods, who led his people, smote and slew kings, made their land the heritage of Israel, and freed us from our foes.

  • Mt 19:3-12  Pharisees / Jesus:  “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” / “God made them male and female and said, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they'll become one.  Don't separate what God has joined.” / “Then why did Moses allow a bill of divorce?” / “Because your hearts were hard, but it wasn't like that at first..  Whoever divorces his wife... and marries another commits adultery.”  Disciples / Jesus:  “Then it's better not to marry.” / “Only some can accept this.  Some were born incapable of marriage; some were made so by others; some renounced marriage for the Kingdom's sake.”
Reflect

  • Creighton:  Franciszek Gajowniczek, with his wife and children, were taken to Auschwitz in 1940.  When a prisoner escaped, he was chosen to be starved to death.  When he cried, “My wife!  My children!”, Fr. Maximilian Kolbe offered to take his place; he watched others die, then was killed by lethal injection.  "Love lives through sacrifice and is nourished by giving.  There's no love without sacrifice. Sacrifice senses, taste, hearing, mind, and will in holy obedience.” (St. Maximilian to Fr. Konstanty)   To learn love, learn sacrifice, and turn to the greatest model, Jesus Christ. “The Cross is the school of love” (St. Maximilian).

    • St. Maximilian Kolbe

  • Passionist:  Divorce isn't the same at all times and in all cases.  When the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by pitting him between the letter and the spirit of marriage law, he upheld the sanctity of marriage and condemned the divorce they spoke of.  But wasn't he addressing the hypocrites' hardness of heart more than divorce?  “People who started a new union after the defeat of their sacramental marriage are not excommunicated, and they must not be treated that way.  They belong to the church.” (Pope Francis, General Audience 8-5-15)
  • Universalis:  St. Maximilian Kolbe, Franciscan priest, martyr, believed we must use modern communication to fight for salvation, founded newspaper, Knights of Mary Immaculate, “city of Mary,” radio station; studied Buddhism and Shintoism; spread gospel in harmony with Japanese culture; helped Auschwitz inmates; offered to be killed instead of family man.  Emulate him through perseverance, prayer and doing right.
Dress legend
  • Red shirt, 'blood drop' pin:  St. Max's martyrdom; Egyptians pursued your ancestors to the Red Sea... (1st reading)
  • 'Horse,' 'chariot/car' tie pins:  ...with chariots and horsemen; hornets 'drove' Amorites etc. out of your way;... (1st reading)
  • 'Sword' tie pin:  it wasn't your sword  (1st reading)
  • Tie with grapes:  You've eaten of vineyards you didn't plant (1st reading)
  • 'Two interlocking rings' tie bar:  "They are no longer two, but one." (gospel)
  • 'Girl with heart' pin:  Moses allowed divorce because your hearts were hard. (gospel)
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