In German-occupied Poland a Catholic priest named Maximilian Kolbe lived and worked in a monastery with other friars. They provided shelter to refugees, including 2,000 Jews whom they hid from the Germans. Maximilian was arrested in 1941 by the Nazis and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. One inmate escaped from this camp; as punishment, 10 other prisoners were selected to die by starvation in an underground bunker. When one of these men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, “My wife! My children!” Maximilian volunteered to take his place. In the underground bunker, he led the nine others in prayer and singing hymns. After two weeks without food and water, four prisoners – including Maximilian – were still alive. To hasten their deaths, they were given a lethal injection of carbolic acid. It’s said that Maximilian calmly raised his arm to receive the injection. He was canonized in 1982.
How did Maximilian have the courage to offer his life for a stranger? Because his life had been rooted in prayer and serving our Lord. With grace, he was able to offer his life and stay calm and prayerful through his final days.
Most of us won’t be faced with life-and-death situations. Yet we may endure circumstances where we wonder if we’ll have the courage and strength to continue another day.
Parents who pray while suffering through a child’s illness or other extreme circumstances may say later, “By the grace of God we got through that.” That’s not a trite cliche; they recognize that they couldn’t – and didn’t – manage on their own. Anyone who has prayed through a difficult time may say the same thing. They’ll tell you that they never could have done what they had to do without the grace given to them from our Lord.
How do we stay rooted in Christ like Maximilian did? Through prayer.
Imagine Christ saying to you, “I love you. I’m here with you. Stay close to Me. Tell me everything that’s on your heart.”
If you’re struggling through a difficult time, all through the day ask Him to guide your thoughts, words, and actions. Listen for His voice – spoken through a trusted friend, the Scriptures, or your gut feelings. You, too, will be able to say, “By the grace of God, I was able to handle that.”
“I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace, peace for His people and His friends and those who turn to Him in their hearts. His help is near for those who fear Him...” – Psalm 85:8-9
“Lord, guide me with Your grace.”
Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell Comments are always welcome!
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P.S. We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/...
P.P.S. The people of Maui are relying on the grace of God and the generosity of others to get them through the devastating effects of the wildfires. If you’re able to help, here are a few organizations that are accepting donations:
The Hawaii Community Foundation
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