Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest, Martyr
Thursday of week 19 in Ordinary Time
First reading Joshua 3:7-11,13-17
Today’s reading from Joshua, where the ark of the covenant goes before the people and the Jordan parts for them to cross, offers a powerful symbol for our spiritual journey. For us, the Church is the living ark of the covenant, carrying Christ’s presence among His people and leading us safely through the deep waters of life’s trials. Saint Maximilian Kolbe embodied this truth to the fullest, offering his life in selfless love so that another might live, a modern martyrdom rooted in the unshakable conviction that “a living God is with us.” Such faith removes fear, for when we know without doubt that God walks ahead of us, even the strongest currents cannot sweep us away. Spiritually, this calls us to trust the Church as the vessel of God’s presence and to step forward in obedience, even into waters that seem impassable. Personally, it challenges us to make daily sacrifices, small or great, that witness to Christ’s love, confident that with Him at the center, we will always reach the far shore. Let’s reflect: Do I live with the unshakable conviction that God is truly with me, allowing that faith to inspire selfless acts and give me courage to face life’s deepest challenges?
Don Giorgio