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Good morning. On this day in 1914, Jonas Salk was born in New York City. The son of Jewish immigrants who had no formal education, Salk went to medical school, and eventually discovered a vaccine for polio. The disease which causes paralysis had become a major health problem and struck fear among  communities around the world. While today, the disease is still incurable, Salk’s discovery of a vaccination means that now polio has been almost totally eradicated. 

The development of a vaccine took many years and Salk claimed that at one point he almost gave up the research. Then one day as he sat in a park and watched children play, he thought of all the people who might never walk again unless a vaccine was found and returned to his work with renewed vigour.

A remarkable person, Salk refused to seek to profit personally from the vaccine. When someone asked him who owned the patent his reply was "There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?

Most of us will never have the opportunity to make life-changing discoveries like Jonas Salk. Yet, Christian faith teaches that we can reach out to those who are in need around us.  I am reminded of words in the Book of Deuteronomy which say:

If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor… Since there will never cease to be some need on the earth I therefore command you to open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.

 Lord, Keep us mindful of the needs of others. Help us to live as those who are always ready to do what we can to work for a better world for all. Amen.