大象传媒

Good morning.聽It was a privilege to be at Westminster Abbey in 1998 when my friend, Archbishop Oscar Romero, was recognised as a martyr of the twentieth century. His statue was placed above the West Door of the Abbey alongside nine other martyrs from around the world, each with an inspiring story of courage and faith.聽
To the far left as you look at the door is Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest, killed on this day in 1941. Arrested for publishing anti-Nazi pamphlets and giving sanctuary to Jewish refugees he was taken to Auschwitz.聽
He continued to minister as a priest, and received regular beatings from the guards. Not long after he arrived, three prisoners escaped. As a warning to other prisoners, ten were picked out to starve to death. One of them, Franci-szek Gajow-niczek cried out 鈥淢y wife! My children!鈥� 聽Kolbe volunteered to take Gajow-niczek鈥檚 place. For two weeks, he led his fellow prisoners in prayer as they gradually died. Kolbe himself was eventually killed by an injection of carbolic acid.
A phrase attributed to Kolbe reads: 鈥榯he most deadly poison of our time is indifference鈥�. He showed the opposite of indifference. He acted in the moment, offering his very self, instead of the father and husband. A truly selfless act. None of us knows how we would act if faced with the same dilemma.聽
Like all martyrs, Kolbe challenges us to think how we respond when faced with an injustice or when asked for costly compassion. Do we speak out and act, or do we remain silent, caught in our own fears?聽
Lord, may I open my heart and eyes to the needs of my sisters and brothers,聽and work for the good of all your creation.聽
Amen. 聽