Service and
Self-Sacrifice
Examples of Christian self-sacrifice in the lives of
individuals.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Teresa is famous all over the world for her work with the poor in India. She began life as Agnes, and was born in 1910 in Skopje (then in Yugoslavia). From an early age she wanted to work in India, and as a young girl she went to Ireland to become a nun, from where she was sent to India. She says that although she knew that God had called her, she had loved her family life and it was a hard decision to leave home; but once she had decided to leave, she never doubted she had done the right thing.
She was a teacher, and became Principal of her school, but when she was thirty-six she had what she calls her 'inspiration day'. She was travelling on a train when an 'inner voice' told her to give up all and serve God among the poorest of the poor, the hungry, the sick and the dying people of Calcutta. She believed this to be God's call. Someone once asked her if she ever doubted. 'No,' she said, 'there was no doubt. The moment you accept, the moment you surrender yourself, that's the conviction. It may mean death to you. But I have never had any doubt.'
Teresa moved into Calcutta and began working with poorest
people of the city, orphans, the sick and the dying. In time
people came to help her, and she formed a new religious order,
the Missionary Sisters of Charity. The order is now spread all
over the world. Members of the Order are pledged to pray for and
help the poor, and the only things they own are two saris (simple
Indian-style clothing) and a bucket to wash them in.
Maximilian Kolbe
Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish priest who is now known particularly for the way in which he died. He may have become famous anyway.
Maximilian was born in 1894 in Poland and was baptised Raymond. From a very early age he felt called to serve God, and he was ordained when he was 21. He became a member of the Franciscan order. He was greatly involved in education and publishing, and formed new Franciscan houses as far away as Japan.
Poland was invaded by the Nazis in the Second World War, and in February 1941 Fr Maximilian was arrested and taken to Pawiak prison. At first he was allowed to wear his religious habit. He was severely ill-treated. One witness says that an S.S. guard asked Maximilian if he believed in Christ. When he said 'I do', the guard struck him. The S.S. guard kept repeating the question, and when Maximilian gave the same answer he kept on beating him. Soon after this, his habit was taken and he was made to wear prison clothing. In May he was taken with over 300 others to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. He became prisoner number 16670.
At the end of July, it was discovered that three prisoners had escaped. The guards decided to pick ten prisoners to be sent in reprisal to the bunker (starvation cell) to die. When the ten were picked one man broke down and cried 'My wife! My children! I shall never see them again!' To the amazement of everyone, Maximilian stepped forward, to take his place. The guard accepted the exchange, and Maximilian went with the prisoners to the cell. Maximilian led the men in hymns and prayers. One by one they died, until only the priest was left. Finally, on August 14th, the impatient guards could wait no longer, and they injected Fr Maximilian with acid, which killed him.
When Maximilian Kolbe was proclaimed a saint in 1982, the man he had saved, Franciszek Gajowniczek, was present at the ceremony.
THE CHRISTIAN IDEA OF SERVICE AND SELF SACRIFICE
The Widow Mk 12:41-44
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on."
Now look at these passages from the Gospels
The Status of Discipleship Mt 20:25-28 
Jesus called the apostles together and said, "You know
that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high
officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead,
whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and
whomever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son
of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his
life as a ransom for many."
The Greatest Commandment Mk 12:28-31
One of the teachers of the law asked Jesus "Of all the
commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with your soul and with your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
Signposts
is a Painsley