…whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. – Mark 10:43-45
I recently was blessed to attend the Funeral Vigil and Mass for Servant of God Fr. Emil Kapaun. The Korean war chaplain died as a prisoner of war. First-hand accounts of his last days assert that he was martyred for his faith because he brought the light of Christ, especially hope, to his fellow prisoners. Fr. Kapaun was a true example of servant leadership in imitation of Christ.
Fr. Kapaun knew the law of the gift even though he died decades before St. Pope John Paul II taught it. JPII said, “We become most truly human in the measure in which we go out of ourselves and give ourselves for the sake of others.” This means we find the true meaning and joy in our lives precisely to the degree that we give our lives away to God and others. And give himself as a leader to others Fr. Kapaun did. He held up the light of Christ in the darkness of a death camp. He offered himself as a living sacrifice, pouring out God’s love, peace, and life to all people. He even extended God’s mercy to his captors. As they placed him in a squalid shack to die of illness and starvation, he told POWs who were ministering to him: “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” These were Christ’s very own words from the cross, Luke 23:34.
“Servant of God” is such a perfect title for Fr. Kapaun (although my theological opinion holds that he is absolutely a saint). He served God and others with such purity of intention and joy. He became the slave of all and the servant of all in imitation of Christ. May we be inspired by his holy example and seek to serve others selflessly, offering ourselves as a true gift of self.
Here is a link to a video about Fr. Kapaun’s life: Real Life Catholic – Fr. Kapaun
You can also learn more about his life here: Fr. Emil Kapaun – Kapaun Mt. Carmel
Readings for October 17, 2021 – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
- Isaiah 53:10-11
- Psalm 33:4-22
- Hebrews 4:14-16
- Mark 10:35-45