I have two heroes on my mind as we ponder the beautiful readings for this sixth Sunday of Easter; one who is nationally known and one who is locally known. The national hero on my mind is a man named Desmond Doss. In case you don’t know who that is, he is a hero from World War II and the subject of the movie, “Hacksaw Ridge.” The local hero is someone I’ve talked about before but will never get tired of talking about: my friend Rachel Muha. You may remember her story from when she spoke as part of our Three Nights of Grace parish mission for our 125th anniversary here at Sacred Heart.
So let’s talk for a second about Desmond Doss. He grew up in Virginia and was deeply affected by a childhood fight between him and his brother in which he accidentally almost killed him. Because of that experience and his beliefs as a Seventh Day Adventist, Desmond became a lifelong pacifist. This made things very difficult for him as he entered the U.S. Army to participate in World War II. Although he suffered much ridicule from fellow soldiers for his refusal to carry a weapon, Doss made it out of bootcamp and became a combat medic in the 77th Infantry Division.
In this capacity, he found himself in a fierce battle between U.S. and Japanese forces in Okinawa at a place known as Hacksaw Ridge. This place was known for claiming the lives of many soldiers because it was 350 feet high and was thus exposed to heavy gunfire from both sides. In the midst of great danger, with his fellow soldiers in retreat, Doss remained on the ridge to treat and evacuate the wounded. Over the course of an evening, Doss helped evacuate 75 men, including several wounded Japanese soldiers. In the movie, you see Doss returning again and again to harm’s way with the prayer, “Lord, let me get one more,” on his lips. For his heroism, Desmond Doss was awarded two bronze stars and the medal of honor.
Columbus hero Rachel Muha is also on my mind and heart. Some of you probably remember her remarkable story, but for those who don’t know it, Rachel had a son named Brian whose life was tragically cut short in May of 1999, twenty-five years ago. He was a student at Fransican University of Steubenville and lived in an apartment off campus with his friends, Aaron Land and Andrew Doran. Early in the morning of May 31st, Brian and Aaron were kidnapped by two 18-year-old local boys, Nathan and Terrell. They drove Brian and Andrew to a remote area of Pittsburg and killed them.
In response to this tragedy, Rachel found it within herself to forgive the two young men who took her son Brian. Jesus gave her heart the ability to let go of this grievous injustice. Instead, leaning on His grace, Rachel decided to dedicate her life to helping other young people like Nathan and Terrell, both of whom came from extremely broken family situations and whose lives had been affected by the drugs and violence all around them. She was inspired to try to help other children in similar situations in Columbus to avoid turning to drug use and violence the way Nathan and Terrell had.
Rachel went on to establish the Brian Muha Foundation, whose charitable work funds the Run the Race Club, a place of love and support for inner city youth on the west side of Columbus. Through Run the Race, Rachel has helped countless young people by giving them a safe and supportive place where they can avoid the violence and drugs that are, unfortunately, all around them. Run the Race operated as an after-school program for years and has recently expanded to become a homeschool consortium. Now, in a converted former public school building on Columbus’ west side, Rachel and others provide education and a loving Christian witness to the kids in their care.
Having seen Rachel’s work firsthand, I can tell you she is overflowing with love for the kids in her care. Seeing how she interacts with the kids who come through the doors at the Run the Race Club and seeing how the kids respond to the woman they call “Miss Rachel,” I can say that her attitude mirrors that of soldier Desmond Doss, who prayed to help just one more. Her heart is always on the lookout for the next child to love and help.
It’s easy to look at people like Desomnd Doss and Rachel Muha and be a bit intimidated by them. We may be tempted to think, “They are amazing, but I could never do that.” But brothers and sisters, that is a lie. The reality is that Jesus has given all of us the ability to live like them, looking for that next person to love and help. His grace empowers us to live with the same heroic love that inspired them. As St. Peter reminds us in the reading we heard from the book of Acts, God doesn’t show partiality. Our Father is so generous that He pours out His Holy Spirit abundantly on all who fear Him. The Holy Spirit empowers each of us with the same Divine Love that leads to heroic acts like those of Desmond Doss and Rachel Muha. When we allow the Love who is the Holy Spirit to rule our minds and hearts, incredible things can and do happen. Our lives will be changed and so will the lives of those we serve.
Our call to love comes as a response to the incredible love of our Lord, who laid down everything for us on the Cross to free us from the sin that stifles, twists, and kills the love we were made for and destined to live in. As St. John reminds us in his first letter today:
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Since Jesus’ love washes away our sins in Baptism and Reconciliation, we are given everything we need to love in an abundant, no-holds-barred way. By looking at the Cross, we have a constant reminder of the measure of love that we can share in. Jesus reminds us in the Gospel today to remain in His love by keeping His commandments. And His commandment is simple, yet difficult: “Love one another as I love you.” When we gaze upon the life of Jesus poured out on the Cross, we see the love we are called to remain in. And it is possible! By cooperating with Jesus’ ever-present grace through the Holy Spirit, our hearts can be set ablaze with that love of the Cross.
Our hearts are inspired by stories like that of Rachel Muha and Desmond Doss because deep down we know that the love they exemplify, that “Lord, let me help one more,” type of love, is what we too are made for. We too are called to live that same self-sacrificial love in our own way, different from Rachel Muha and Desmond Doss, but just as powerful. As Jesus reminds us: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Those in need around us are the friends Jesus invites us to lay down our lives for, the ones who will experience God’s love through our care for them. The key is we each need to get out of our own way so that we can remain in that selfless love of the Cross. Brothers and sisters, Jesus has appointed each of us to go and bear lasting fruit by the Love of the Trinity. Let’s courageously turn to Jesus right now and ask Him, “Lord, let me help one more.”
+ Father, thank you for the love you share with your Son. Thank you for showering your love on us through Him. Jesus, help us to remain in your love by opening our hearts to the Holy Spirit, who helps us to lay our lives down for our friends. Holy Spirit, please grant us the joy that only You can give, as we look for opportunities to lay down our lives in love today. We ask this through Christ, our risen Lord. Amen. +