In 1943, German industrialist Oskar Schindler faced a moment that would etch his name into history. Initially motivated by profit, he employed Jewish workers in his factory to exploit cheap labor. But as the Holocaust’s horrors escalated, he began to see his workers not as pawns, but as people. Risking everything—his wealth, reputation, and life—he pivoted, spending his fortune bribing Nazi soldiers to save over 1,200 lives. When asked why, he confessed, “I could not just stand aside.”
This is the same pivot Queen Esther makes in her story from the Book of Esther. She is no warrior, no prophet. She is a woman caught in the machinery of an empire, a queen by accident, a Jew by birth, an outsider masquerading as an insider. And then, the moment of crisis: her people face extermination. She could stay silent, safe in the palace. Or she could risk it all.
The Virtue of Courage
She prays. But notice—her prayer isn’t a serene meditation. It’s raw, its urgent and terrifying: “I am alone, Lord. Save us. I am afraid.” This is not the polished faith of someone certain of victory. It is the desperate faith of someone who knows the stakes. And then, she moves. She doesn’t wait for God to magically intervene. She strategizes, she schemes, she weaponizes, she acts. She hosts banquets and exploits the king’s affection. Faith is not passive; it is kinetic.
We’ve all had our Esther moments. Ever rehearsed a tough conversation in the shower, only to clam up in the moment? Ever spent minutes pacing outside your boss’s office to ask for a raise or for a week of holiday time and end up knocking anyway? The times when you draft and delete that email a dozen times, half the time hoping the Wi-Fi goes down so you have an excuse not to send it but finally do end up sending it. The moments when fear and courage exist in the same breath, and you choose to step forward anyway.
Esther’s story is not just about prayer—it’s about what prayer fuels. Take Jonas Salk, the scientist who developed the polio vaccine. He spent years in a lab, praying, yes—but also testing, failing, persisting through 20,000 samples before finding success. When he said, “Hope lies in dreams and, of course, working for it,” Esther would’ve nodded. Divine partnership means showing up with both hands: one clasped in prayer, the other drafting the blueprint. Faith and action, they are dance partners, and sometimes, one has to drag the other onto the dance floor.
God-Given Purpose
Esther was a Jew in a Persian court, an unlikely bridge between two worlds. What is your Persian court? Maybe it is a corporate boardroom where you can advocate for fairness. Maybe it’s a classroom where you can be the voice for the voiceless. Maybe it’s even your own family dinner table, or your reading group, where hard but necessary conversations need to happen. Wherever you are, you are placed with a purpose. And if you think, "Who am I to make a difference?"—well, that’s exactly the kind of person God seems to favor.
Ever felt like you don’t belong, don’t deserve a seat at the table? Esther felt that way too. But God has a habit of hiding heroes in plain sight. Of putting prophets in palaces, whistleblowers in offices, protectors in factories. Of choosing the unqualified, the uncertain, and the underdogs. And if you’re scared? Good. That means you’re exactly where you need to be.
Finally, the name Esther comes from the Persian word for “star.” And stars are not just pretty ornaments in the sky. They are furnaces, burning themselves to bring light into the darkness. And sometimes, they explode in supernovas, changing everything around them. So here is your challenge: Find your moment. Be a star. Be Esther.
- Father Boby's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
