1 John 3:17-18 (NIV)
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother
or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that
person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions
and in truth.
Greatness is too often defined by an unusual act of
courage or a life of extraordinary merit or virtue. But glimpses of greatness
can be seen all around us, and especially in those who genuinely care for
others.
Father Albert Braun was such a man. After his ordination,
he requested to live amongst some of the poorest of the world's poor. He was
sent to the Mescalero Apache reservation in south central New Mexico (USA).
Father Braun learned to love the Apache. And as he lived with them, he learned
from them and they learned from him. They became family.
He stayed many years on the reservation but left it twice
to serve as a chaplain during both World Wars. He almost died in World War II
when his Allied forces tried to defend the Philippine Islands from attack by
the Japanese. Many of his comrades died during the fighting and Father Braun
risked his own life to comfort the wounded and give the dying Last Rites. He
was forced to march with no food and little water. Along the way, many more of
the men died. And in the prisoner of war camps, more lives yet were lost to
disease, cruel physical treatment and malnutrition.
Father Braun had learned much from the Apache about
surviving off the land. When he went out on work detail, he found fruit and
edible vegetables which he smuggled back into the camp to help supplement the
men's diets. Once he acquired the vaccine for diphtheria which he also secreted
into camp, but it wasn't enough. They drew lots to determine who would get the
medicine.
Though afflicted himself, he gave his portion to a young
soldier. Before long, he suffered simultaneously from diphtheria, malaria,
dysentery and beriberi.
He barely survived. After the war he asked to be returned
to New Mexico to live once again with the Apache. When he knew that his own
death was near, Father Braun requested to be buried on the reservation,
surrounded by his Apache "family."
Today, at the church of St. Joseph, one can see portraits
of the Apache's greatest chiefs and warriors. There is a portrait of Geronimo,
one of Cochise, a picture of Victorio and a portrait of Father Albert Braun,
who came to live among them as a true friend.
Father Braun showed a certain greatness, not by any one
heroic deed, but by the sum total of a life of caring. Such glimpses of
greatness can be seen shining from the hearts of all who care.
Dear Lord, give us a caring heart today. Help the world
around us see that we care and that that care comes from God. In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment