15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF MAXIMILLIAN KOLBE AT AUSCHWITZ
One escapes, ten die – that was the cruel rule at Auschwitz. The ten names began to be randomly called out as the group of mere skin of bones stands out in front of the barracks. Franciszek Gajowniczek thinks to himself – “At 42, I am too young to die. I have a wife and sons who need me. Surely my name will not be called out.” He is safe through nine and at ten his name is pronounced as a clarion call. Pitifully, he prostrates himself begging for mercy yet the commandant remains unmoved. A voice comes from the back of the near dead. He steps forward so all can see him – Maximillian Kolbe – known as the “Christ of Auschwitz” – always willing to give of his meager food rations to those who were hungrier still or his blanket to those who were yet colder. He states to the commandant “I will take his place. I have no wife or children. I am older, he is younger, take me.” Maximillian Kolbe was 47. Stunned, Gajowniczek looks up and could only thank him with his eyes. Kolbe is dragged off like an animal with the other nine and penned to be starved to death. Kolbe leads the nine others for fourteen days in prayer and singing as one by one starvation is victorious. After these two weeks Kolbe alone remains. He continues singing and praying as the Nazis plunge a lethal injection into his veins. He would be the first and only man to offer his life for another in Auschwitz. And what of Gajowniczek? He was eventually released. His wife alone survived - all his sons killed. He affixed a brass plate to a rock in his yard with two words engraved – Maximillian Kolbe. Gajowniczek states:
“Because of Maximilian Kolbe, every breath that I take, everything that I do, every single moment, is to me — -like a gift.”
“Because of Maximilian Kolbe, I can’t act frivolously — because every single moment is pregnant with meaning. Because it was a gift to me from that one who died that I might breathe this breath, that I might act today, that I might embrace this moment — I could never take another moment for granted.”
Oh, as Christians, that we should have that same passion to live for the One Who died for us.