JOSHUA 24:14-29; PSALM 16; MATTHEW 19:13-15
The Israelites were asked to choose between serving the true God and the gods of the land they entered. Life is always confronted with choices between God or mammon, eternal or temporal. But oftentimes we have poor judgment of values that informs our choices and so what we have are superficial choices. Joshua said to the people “serve God in sincerity and in faithfulness” (Josh.24:14). He told them the implication of insincere homage and half choices. Some of our troubles and inefficiencies are due to our half choices. Beloved, let us learn to be decisive like Joshua. He said “As for me and my household we will serve the Lord” (Josh.24:15).
In the gospel, Jesus calls us to be child-like. That means we must be humble, teachable, obedient, forgiving and trustful. Let us be teachable and make a decision that honours God. St. Maximilian Kobe whose memorial we celebrate today, was born in Poland, Jan. 8, 1894. He decided to follow Jesus in obedience and holiness. He laid down his life for a prisoner who lamented over his wife and children at death hour. Fr. Kolbe died after he was injected with carbolic acid on August 14, 1941. Pope John Paul II canonized Maximilian as a “martyr of charity” in 1982. St. Maximilian Kolbe is considered a patron of journalists, families, prisoners, the pro-life movement and the chemically addicted.
LET US PRAY
O God, who filled the Priest and Martyr Saint Maximilian Kolbe with a burning love for the Immaculate Virgin Mary and with zeal for souls and love of neighbor, graciously grant, through his intercession, that striving for your glory by eagerly serving others, we may be conformed, even until death, to your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
