January 6th, 2007

The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord

Readings for the Day:

First Reading: 1 John 5:5-13
Psalm: Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20
Gospel: Mark 1:7-11 or Luke 3:23-38 or Luke 3:23, 31-34, 36, 38

By the very nature of creation, material being is endowed with its own stability, truth and excellence, its own order and laws.

-- Gaudium et spes

Saints of the Day:

My favourite Theologian, Shepherd and Pope, John Paul II was known for the number of Venerables, Blessed and Saints that he recognised during his pontificate. John Paul felt that all members of the Church are called to live a life characterised by Apotheosis - regardless of their being lay people leading ordinary lives. Today, while I was praying my morning office and reading the news, I came across the following story. While the individuals in this article may never be officially recognised as Venerable, Blessed or Saint in the Church, I confer upon them the title μακάριος.

Here is the story, in full, from Yahoo!News:

Two defining characteristics of heroes are that they often risk their own lives almost instinctively, and that they usually think what they've done is no big deal.

Wesley Autrey meets that definition. "I don't feel like I did something spectacular," the 50-year-old construction worker told The New York Times after he jumped into the path of a New York City subway train Tuesday to rescue a 20-year-old student who had had a seizure and fallen onto the tracks. "I just saw someone who needed help. I did what I felt was right."

The nation is rightly celebrating Autrey's remarkably selfless act: As his two little daughters looked on in horror from the platform above, he wrestled the student off the rails and then tucked him into a shallow trough between the tracks as the oncoming train passed inches above their heads. Then Autrey yelled to onlookers to reassure his girls that he was OK.

Many others on the platform had the same chance to act, but it was hardly surprising that none of them jumped in front of a train to try to save a stranger. What's remarkable, and inspiring, is how often someone unexpectedly emerges from the crowd to demonstrate astonishing courage.

Think of Lenny Skutnik, a 28-year-old federal worker who swam out into the ice-choked Potomac River in January 1982 to save a drowning woman when an Air Florida jet crashed shortly after takeoff. "I couldn't just stand there and do nothing to help," Skutnik said later.

Think of Michael Monsoor and Ross McGinnis, who might have said something similarly self-effacing after what they did, but we'll never know. Both died.

Monsoor, a Navy SEAL, was 25 last September when an Iraqi grenade hit him in the chest inside the sniper hideout where he and four other SEALs were concealed. Monsoor threw himself on the grenade and saved his buddies.

Army Pfc. McGinnis was just 19 last month when an Iraqi insurgent threw a grenade into the Humvee that carried him and four other soldiers. McGinnis dove backwards onto the grenade and absorbed the blast, saving the others.

Autrey, Skutnik, Monsoor, McGinnis and others like them deserve our deepest admiration and gratitude, not just for saving the lives they did, but also for displaying extraordinary sparks of nobility that remind us of the heroic side of human nature.

These individuals deserve the title Makarios because they completely and selflessly followed the teachings of Jesus in John 15:

My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples. I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that your joy may be complete. My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them.

These Makarioi did what they knew to be right, even though it might (and in two cases did) cost them thier lives; may their names and memories be forever praised.

This week's Lectio Divina.