Thursday of the 19th week in ordinary time

Joshua 3: 7-10a. 11.13-17    Mathew 18: 21-19: 1

Theme: The faithfulness of God

The church celebrates the memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a priest and martyr of the church. He is popularly known as the Apostle of Consecration to Mary. He is also the patron saint of drug addicts, prisoners, families, and pro-life movement. He was martyred during the 2^nd world war. He was a great devotee to our mother Mary. It is said that at the young age of twelve he had a vision of our mother Mary, and this greatly influenced him. In the vision he had, he was given an option by our mother to choose between a white crown and a red crown. The white means he will live a life of purity and the red means he will die as a martyr, and he told our mother Mary that he was disposed to accept both.

We have a lot to learn from the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe. His love for God and his neighbours is what made him to opt to take the place of a family man in the prison, who was among those to be starved to death. His action in the face of death is the height of selflessness. He was not worried about his safety but rather was more concerned about the security of others. That is why he used the monastery as a place of shelter to hide the Jews, to treat those who were sick and give accommodation to some others. His care and concern for other people are majorly what led to his arrest and later to his death. His way of life and selflessness is worthy of emulation by all of us who go by the name Christians in our own time. St. Maximilian Kolbe listened to the word of God and allowed it to guide his word and deed.

In the 1st reading of today, we see the faithfulness of God in the life of his people. The mantle of leadership has shifted to Joshua after the death of Moses, and God is assuring Joshua today that he is going to empower him in such a way that the people will believe that he is with them. This is an assurance that is very important in the journey of the Israelites to the promised land, after the change of the mantle of leadership. This is very important, because some of the people may not trust in the leadership of Joshua. So, God proved himself in the presence of the Israelites. Dear friends in Christ, we serve a faithful God that is tested and trusted. May almighty God bless you in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, Amen. Peace be with you.