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March 16, 2008

Save Yourself!

Preacher: Rev. Jack Meehan Category: Biblical Scripture: Matthew 27:40

Palm Sunday
Matthew 27:40

"Save Yourself!"

Father Maximillian Kolbe was a Polish priest who died in the Nazi death camp Auschwitz during World War II. His story is one of inspiring sacrifice. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Father Kolbe knew his monestary would be seized and so sent most of the friars home. With the aid of a few remaining friars he turned the resources of the monestary to providing shelter for 3,000 refugees, including 2,000 Jews. He was imprisoned and released, but was not deterred. He continued to provide shelter for refugees, until May 1941 when the Nazis closed down the monestary and sent Kolbe and his four fellow priests to Auschwitz.

At Auschwitz Kolbe continued his sacrificial ways. The prisoners were slowly and systematically starved, so when food was brought everyone struggled to get their portion. Father Kolbe, however, made a practice of standing aside until the others had been fed, often meaning there was nothing left for him. When he did receive a portion he was often found sharing it with others. In order to discourage escape attempts, the camp had a rule that 10 men would be killed for every person who escaped. After a man from Kolbe's bunker escaped, the rest of the men were led out to face Commandant Karl Fritsch. Ten men were selected to be placed in the starvation bunker. One of them, Franciszek Gajowniczek, broke down in sobs: "My poor wife! My poor children! What will they do?" At this, Father Kolbe stepped forward, took off his cap, stood before the commandant and said, "I am a Catholic priest. Let me take his place. I am old. He has a wife and children." The Commandant was astounded. "What does this Polish pig want?" he asked. Father Kolbe pointed to Franciszek and again made his request. "I am a Catholic priest from Poland. I would like to take his place, because he has a wife and children."

The Commandant remained silent for a minute, then agreed to Father Kolbe's request. Franciszek Gajowniczek was returned to the ranks and Father Kolbe took his place. The ten condemned men were led off to Building 13, where they were left without food or water until they starved to death. After four weeks four of the men were still alive, Father Kolbe one of them. As the Nazis needed the chamber for more victims the four were put to death by lethal injection. And so on August 14, 1941 at the age of 47 years, Father Kolbe finally died, having given his life for Franciszek Gajowniczek. Franciszek survived the war and lived to the age of 95. He never forgot Father Kolbe or his heroic love. Father Kolbe, of course, was following the example set for him by the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as Christ laid down his life for us, so Father Kolbe laid down his life for his brother.

There is a significant different between Father Kolbe's heroic example and that of our Lord Jesus Christ: Father Kolbe willingly gave himself up for another - a single individual. The Lord Jesus gave himself up for us all. The mocking jeer, "He saved others; he cannot save himself" (Matt. 27:42) was only half-true. The true statement would be: "He saved others; he will not save himself." The difference is significant. Jesus chose not to save himself in order that he might save us. As we enter into this Holy Week, this is the awe-inspiring truth that confronts us: Jesus will not save himself, even from death upon a cross, in order that he might deliver us from sin, death, and hell. "He died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (2 Cor. 5:15).

At last weekend's Kick-Off events for 50 Days Ablaze!, our guest speaker, Tina McGuffey, who serves as Director of Outreach for Our Savior Lutheran Church in Laurel, MD, laid a challenge before us. She gave to each person present one of these pocket crosses and asked us all to give that cross to someone else in the week ahead. Imprinted on the cross are the words, "God loves you." This is the message of Christ's sacrificial death upon the cross: God's saving love for all people. What better time than now in this Holy Week to share this cross and our faith in the Christ of that cross with another person! May God help us to do this, for Jesus' sake. Amen.