Love makes the difference

Everyone one of us loves to be loved. You might have heard stories about mothers who sacrificed their own fortune and even lives just to ensure their children's survival. However, the Bible talks about an even greater love: But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). Indeed, who is willing to sacrifice his/her life for a stranger or even an unworthy person?

The example of Jesus Christ's sacrifice has triggered similar selfless heroic deeds among his followers. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest is among one of those followers during the second world war (WWII). The location of Kolbe's martyrdom was at the death camp Auschwitz, the killing centre during WWII where the largest numbers of European Jews were murdered by the Nazis. Besides a true hero, Kolbe was a saint who practiced what he preached: total love toward God and man. Kolbe’s martyrdom was triggered by a prisoner's escape from the camp in July 1941. The Nazis selected 10 others to be killed in reprisal for the escape. Franciszek Gajowniczek, one of the scapegoats, began to cry, "My wife! My children! I will never see them again!" At this point, Kolbe stepped forward and asked to die in his place. Amazingly, his request was granted by the merciless Nazi commandant. He was later executed with an injection of a lethal dose on August 14, 1941 at the age of 47.

Gajowniczek died on March 13, 1995 in Poland, 95 years old - and 53 years after Kolbe had saved him. He never forgot the ragged monk. After his release from Auschwitz, Gajowniczek spent the next five decades paying homage to Father Kolbe. When he was 94 years old, he visited St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church of Houston. He told his translator on that trip that as long as he had breath in his lungs, he would consider it his duty to tell people about the heroic act of love by Maximilian Kolbe. Why was he obligated to tell people about Kolbe’s sacrifice? We all know the answer – it is Love! Yes, love really makes the difference.

(Kolbe's story)