FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE
SERVICE
«Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing» (Matthew 24:45, 46).
In 1944, an official of the Japanese Intelligence Corps called Hiroo Onoda and two other soldiers disembarked on the Philippine island of Lubang, Mindoro. His commanding officer had ordered him to sabotage airstrips and harbors in order to prevent an enemy invasion. His motto was «resist and choose to die» rather than «surrender or capture.» Two months later, the North Americans landed on the island and took it under possession. Onoda and three other soldiers took refuge in the woods to avoid being captured. In August 1945, the Second World War ended, but they were still in hiding. The Japanese imagined that some soldiers were probably still in hiding, so a Japanese general suggested that leaflets be dropped by air over the islands to announce the end of the war. However, when Onoda read the message, he did not trust it to be true and went even deeper into the mountains. During the following years, there were other attempts to find them and convince them that the war had ended. But the letters, photos and presence of their relatives were interpreted as sagacious tricks to capture them. Toward 1972, Onoda was the only survivor who remained faithful to the task. Finally, after two years of searching, a Japanese explorer named Norio Suzuki managed to locate him and figured out what motivated his tenacity:
«Unless I receive the order from my superior officer, I will remain faithful to my duty,» were Onoda’s exact words.
So Suzuki went back to Japan and found Major Taniguchi who had already retired from the army and was working in a bookstore. They traveled together to the Lubang island. Dressed in war clothes, the commander ordered Onoda to cease all his duties. Tt had been almost thirty years since the end of the war when Onoda returned to his country and was decorated as a national hero.
Being faithful in service is fundamental for a good soldier. Whether in wartime or peacetime, God gave us responsibilities toward our fellowmen that we cannot ignore. The Heavenly Commander will come and search for us and with hope will say, «who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods» (Matt 24:44—47).
Decide today to show faithfulness in service until the day Jesus comes again
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Taken from: Daily Devotions for Adults 2020
“A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine”
From: Julian Melgoza-Laura Fidanza
Colaboradores: Yidith C & Alejandra Zavala