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God shows the way: To be 'rescued'
A few years ago America magazine published an article that raised the question of how many Catholics, Protestants, and men and women of good will made the heroic choice to shelter Jews from the Nazi Holocaust.
The question was phrased something like "A half million Schindlers?" referring to the well-known story of German industrialist Oskar Schindler's acts and reflecting the estimate some scholars make of the numbers of rescuers.
The Scripture reading from Daniel for this week makes a promise for apocalyptic times: "At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book (of life)." This reading goes on to speak of those who "lead the many to justice" being "like the stars forever."
33rd Sunday
in Ordinary Time
(Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006)
Daniel 12:1-3
Psalms 16:5, 8-11
Hebrews 10:11-14, 18
Mark 13:24-32
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How do men and women prepare themselves for acting in such a heroic way, for putting the safety and survival of others above their own?
The authors of Rescuers, Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust, Gay Block and Malka Drucker, sought to answer some of those questions by profiling 49 of the 105 rescuers Block photographed and Drucker interviewed.
In her introduction, Drucker tries to answer why these people responded as they did: "It remains a mystery, perhaps a miracle. Many helped strangers, some saved friends and lovers. Some had humane upbringings, others did not. Some were educated, others were barely literate. They weren't all religious, they weren't all brave. What they did share, however, was compassion, empathy, an intolerance of injustice, and an ability to endure risk beyond what one wants to imagine."
The vital questions for the rest of us to answer are asked by the author in her epilogue: "The rescuers not only raise the question, 'Could I have done what they did?' They also force us to ask ourselves, 'What am I doing now?'"
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Reflection question
• How might God be asking you to use your gifts and talents, your presence, to offer compassionate service to others?
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Believers can gain the courage to answer with their lives from the last verse of the psalm for this week: "You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever."
This column is presented in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas.
(Faith Alive! is now on a separate page.)
This week's readings
Week of November 19 - 25, 2006
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Dn 12:1-3
Reading II: Heb 10:11-14, 18
Gospel: Mk 13:24-32
Monday, November 20, 2006
Reading I: Rev 1:1-4; 2:1-5
Gospel: Lk 18:35-43
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Reading I: Rev 3:1-6, 14-22
Gospel: Lk 19:1-10
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Memorial of Saint Ceilia, virgin and martyr
Reading I: Rev 4:1-11
Gospel: Lk 19:11-28
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Thursday, November 23, 2006
Reading I: Rev 5:1-10
Gospel: Lk 19:41-44
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Thanksgiving Day
(The following readings are selected from the options for this day.)
Reading I: Sir 50:22-24
Reading II: 1 Cor 1:3-9
Gospel: Lk 17:11-19
Friday, November 24, 2006
Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrs
Reading I: Rev 10:8-11
Gospel: Lk 19:45-48
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Reading I: Rev 11:4-12
Gospel: Lk 20:27-40
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Pope's Prayer Intentions
November General Intention
The end of terrorism: That, everywhere in the world, an end be put to all forms of terrorism.
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November Mission Intention
African development: That through the effort of believers, together with the forces of society, the new and old chains which prevent the development of the African Continent may be broken.
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Prayer for St. Raphael Cathedral
O God,
Whose word is like fire,
who spoke to Your servant Moses in the burning bush;
who led Your people Israel out of bondage
with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night:
hear Your people as we call upon You
in both need and gratitude.
May the Cathedral fire purify Your Church
in the Diocese of Madison
so that our hearts may burn with the knowledge
that Your Church is built upon the bedrock
of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the intercession of Saint Raphael,
Your messenger of healing,
in union with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI,
and with our Bishop, Robert C. Morlino,
may we find comfort in our affliction
and the courage to proclaim
the Good News of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Amen.
For more prayer resources visit the Office of Worship's Web page at www.straphael.org/~office_of_worship/
(Click on the link on the main page.)
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