Friday, November 18, 2016

Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(Revelation 10:8-11; Luke 19:45-48)

Franz Jӓgerstӓtter died a martyr of the faith at toward the end of World War II.  He was an ordinary farmer with a wife and three daughters until he was called to fight in the German army.  He knew that the Nazis were thugs and took his stand as a conscientious objector.  For a while the Nazis tolerated his resistance.  But as the tide of the war turned, they tried Jӓgerstӓtter for sedition.  Jӓgerstӓtter was told by friends and churchmen to think of his family and repent.  But he defended his position writing, “I cannot believe that, just because one has a wife and children, a man is free to offend God."

In the first reading, Presbyter John conveys how Jӓgerstӓtter must have felt before the guillotine ended his life.  John says that when a prophet first proclaims God’s word, it is like honey on the tongue.  But words have meaning, and actions have consequences.  People will reject a prophet’s criticism and then the prophet.  If the message is strong enough, they will seek to kill the messenger.

Having made the ultimate sacrifice for his faith , Jӓgerstӓtter’s story has a sweet ending.  In 2007 he was beatified by the Church.  There was no need for a miracle to show Blessed Franz Jӓgerstӓtter’s sanctity.  Pope Benedict XVI declared that his execution was in fact a martyrdom obviating any other proof of holiness. 

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Daniel 5:1-6.13-14.16-17.23-28; Luke 21:12-19)

Franz Jägerstätter was an Austrian conscientious objector during World War II.  Taking cues from his Catholic faith, he refused to fight for the Nazis.  Indeed, he wanted nothing to do with the Third Reich.  In a plebiscite calling for Austrian unification with Germany, Jägerstätter was the only person in his village to vote against the resolution.  He was finally tried and summarily executed for his stand.  Not too many years ago Pope Benedict XVI declared him a martyr of the Church.  How can his story be understood in the light of today’s gospel?

Jesus tells the people that when they are persecuted, he will give them words to refute their detractors.  He is descriptive enough to say that “not a hair on your head will be destroyed.”  Taken at face value, his words seem betrayed by the stories of martyrs throughout the centuries.  But the life that he promises to secure is not natural life but eternal life.  The indestructible hair eluded to must be body parts that will be enhanced not diminished as a saint is inducted into glory.

This may sound surreal.  Persecution and death are no small matters to be marginalized by anticipating future gain.  They necessitate a deep commitment to the truth which is Christ.  He opens us to God’s love which alone can make a hero of any of us. 

Friday, November 19, 2010

Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(Revelation 10:8-11; Luke 19:45-48)

Franz Jӓgerstӓtter died at the hands of the Nazis toward the end of World War II. He was an ordinary farmer with a wife and three daughters until war broke out and he was called to fight in the German army. He knew that the Nazis were thugs and took his stand as a conscientious objector. For a while he was allowed to maintain his neutrality, but by 1943 the Nazis would no longer tolerate his resistance. They tried him for sedition and summarily beheaded him. Jӓgerstӓtter defended his position before critics who told him to think of his family. Before his death, he wrote, “I cannot believe that, just because one has a wife and children, a man is free to offend God."

In the first reading, Presbyter John conveys how Jӓgerstӓtter felt before the guillotine ended his life. John says that a prophet announces God’s will with euphoria. It is indeed a privilege to speak the word of God. But words have meaning, and actions have consequences. To preach the word of God, a prophet needs courage. Some will rightly judge him or her on the basis of fidelity to the preached message. Others ignominiously persecute the prophet because the truth he or she speaks constrains their will to do as they please.

Although Jӓgerstӓtter made the ultimate sacrifice for his faith, his story actually has a sweet ending. In 2007 he was beatified by the Church. There was no call for a miracle to show Blessed Franz Jӓgerstӓtter’s sanctity because the farmer-war resister was declared a martyr of the faith.