Reflection on Today's Readings and Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Friday, 19th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, 14th August, 2020
Texts: Ez. 16:1-15.60.63; Ps. Is. 12:2-6; Matt. 19:3-12
The spousal love of God is unconquerable and everlasting. God says, "Yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish with you an everlasting covenant, that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of shame, when I forgive you all that you have done". The strength of God's love surpasses that of our sin; God's love always triumphs over our sins.
God never forgets his love. The love shown to us in Jesus Christ surpasses the love shown to the people of Israel. What love is greater than giving us his only begotten Son! If the memory of the love shown to the people of Israel continue to make God keep his covenant with them, inspite of their sins and infidelity, how much more will the memory of love shown to us in Christ continue to win us the undying love and mercy of God. More over, Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God, in interceding for us. At Baptism we are bound to God in spousal love.
This exalted and undying love God has bestowed on human spousal love by elevating it to the dignity of sacrament. Hence, Jesus Christ says, in the gospel, "So they are no longer two but one. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder". He adds, "And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and married another, commits adultery; and he who marries a divorced woman, commits adultery". The unchastity refers to nonsacramental union or concubinage. Such union could be dissolved. Today we are reminded of the sanctity and the exalted position of sacramental marriage. Sacramental marriage is a channel of God's undying love for man. Once marriage is elevated to the dignity of sacrament it is strengthened to triumph over sin; forgiveness becomes a virtue, a way of life, for those who engage in it.
Today is the memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe. He had great devotion to Mary and pastoral zeal. The 1940 persecution of the Catholic Church in Poland led to his arrest, and his refusal of German citizenship led to his transfer to forced labour and extermination camp where he ministered to the prisoners and later accepted to die in place of a man who had a wife and children. Maximilian Kolbe followed the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ: he laid down his life for another. We remember him today for laying down his life for another; we remember him for his pastoral zeal and his devotion to Mary.
Lord Jesus, we beg you to restore families that have fallen apart, rekindle in their hearts undying love for one another. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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