The Sunday gospel relates how on learning of Mary’s pregnancy Joseph chose to serve the Lord by following a courageous path in a difficult situation. For his part, Saint Paul called himself a “slave of Christ Jesus” in the second reading because of his single-minded dedication to the gospel. U.S. diplomat Richard C. Holbrooke, who died Monday, is being widely praised for his dedicated service in the pursuit of solutions to challenging international conflicts.

Holbrooke was hospitalized last Friday afternoon after becoming ill while meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in her Washington office. Doctors found a tear to his aorta, and he underwent a 21-hour operation. Holbrooke had additional surgery on Sunday and remained in critical condition until his death.

Holbrooke most recently had been President Obama’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. In marking his passing Obama called Holbrooke “one of the giants of U.S. foreign policy,” while Clinton said the nation "has lost one of its fiercest champions and most dedicated public servants."

The list of matters in which Holbrooke was closely engaged reads like a history of U.S. foreign policy since the late 1960s: the war in Vietnam, the normalization of relations with China, the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Berlin in 1994, the Bosnian war, and, most recently, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

As Christians worldwide prepare for the approaching birth of the Prince of Peace, Holbrooke received praised for his diplomatic efforts on behalf of peace. He is said to have dazzled and sometimes intimidated opponents and colleagues around a negotiating table. While detractors called him overly contentious, to admirers, including generations of State Department protégés and the presidents he served, his peacemaking efforts were extraordinary.

Holbrooke’s death could have a profound impact on the administration's efforts to implement its strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which relies not only on military gains but also on development assistance and diplomatic initiatives.

Source: Articles by Barrie Hardymon for National Public Radio, Robert Mackey and Robert D. McFadden for the New York Times, and by Rajiv Chandrasekaran for the Washington Post