| Surrender to Jesus |  | |
| O Lord Jesus, I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you, and I grieve of having ever offended you! Behold my resolution to live entirely for you. –St. John Neumann | ||
| ||
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
(1207-1231)
In her short life Elizabeth manifested such great love for the poor and suffering that she has become the patroness of Catholic charities and of the Secular Franciscan Order. The daughter of the King of Hungary, Elizabeth chose a life of penance and asceticism when a life of leisure and luxury could easily have been hers. This choice endeared her in the hearts of the common people throughout Europe.
At the age of 14 Elizabeth was married to Louis of Thuringia (a German principality), whom she deeply loved; she bore three children. Under the spiritual direction of a Franciscan friar, she led a life of prayer, sacrifice and service to the poor and sick. Seeking to become one with the poor, she wore simple clothing. Daily she would take bread to hundreds of the poorest in the land, who came to her gate.
After six years of marriage, her husband died in the Crusades, and Elizabeth was grief-stricken. Her husband’s family looked upon her as squandering the royal purse, and mistreated her, finally throwing her out of the palace. The return of her husband’s allies from the Crusades resulted in her being reinstated, since her son was legal heir to the throne.
In 1228, Elizabeth joined the Secular Franciscan Order, spending the remaining few years of her life caring for the poor in a hospital which she founded in honor of St. Francis. Elizabeth’s health declined, and she died before her 24th birthday in 1231. Her great popularity resulted in her canonization four years later.
Comment:
Elizabeth understood well the lesson Jesus taught when he washed his disciples' feet at the Last Supper: The Christian must be one who serves the humblest needs of others, even if one serves from an exalted position. Of royal blood, Elizabeth could have lorded it over her subjects. Yet she served them with such a loving heart that her brief life won for her a special place in the hearts of many. Elizabeth is also an example to us in her following the guidance of a spiritual director. Growth in the spiritual life is a difficult process. We can play games very easily if we don't have someone to challenge us or to share experiences so as to help us avoid pitfalls.
Elizabeth understood well the lesson Jesus taught when he washed his disciples' feet at the Last Supper: The Christian must be one who serves the humblest needs of others, even if one serves from an exalted position. Of royal blood, Elizabeth could have lorded it over her subjects. Yet she served them with such a loving heart that her brief life won for her a special place in the hearts of many. Elizabeth is also an example to us in her following the guidance of a spiritual director. Growth in the spiritual life is a difficult process. We can play games very easily if we don't have someone to challenge us or to share experiences so as to help us avoid pitfalls.
Quote:
"Today, there is an inescapable duty to make ourselves the neighbor of every individual, without exception, and to take positive steps to help a neighbor whom we encounter, whether that neighbor be an elderly person, abandoned by everyone, a foreign worker who suffers the injustice of being despised, a refugee, an illegitimate child wrongly suffering for a sin of which the child is innocent, or a starving human being who awakens our conscience by calling to mind the words of Christ: 'As long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me' (Matthew 25:40)" (Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 27, Austin Flannery translation).
"Today, there is an inescapable duty to make ourselves the neighbor of every individual, without exception, and to take positive steps to help a neighbor whom we encounter, whether that neighbor be an elderly person, abandoned by everyone, a foreign worker who suffers the injustice of being despised, a refugee, an illegitimate child wrongly suffering for a sin of which the child is innocent, or a starving human being who awakens our conscience by calling to mind the words of Christ: 'As long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me' (Matthew 25:40)" (Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 27, Austin Flannery translation).
Patron Saint of:
Bakers
Bakers
Saint of the DayLives, Lessons and Feast
By Leonard Foley, O.F.M.; revised by Pat McCloskey, O.F.M.
_________________________________________________
Presence
At any time of the day or night we can call on Jesus.
He is always waiting, listening for our call.
What a wonderful blessing.
No phone needed, no e-mails, just a whisper.
He is always waiting, listening for our call.
What a wonderful blessing.
No phone needed, no e-mails, just a whisper.
Freedom
Lord, you granted me the great gift of freedom.
In these times, O Lord, grant that I may be free
From any form of racism or intolerance.
Remind me, Lord, that we are all equal
in Your Loving eyes.
Consciousness
In these times, O Lord, grant that I may be free
From any form of racism or intolerance.
Remind me, Lord, that we are all equal
in Your Loving eyes.
Consciousness
At this moment Lord I turn my thoughts to you.
I will leave aside my chores and preoccuptions.
I will take rest and refreshment in your presence Lord.
The Word of God
Reading 1 rv 1:1-4; 2:1-5
Responsorial Psalm ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Gospel lk 18:35-43
Listen to audio of this reading
Watch a video reflection
Conversation
I will leave aside my chores and preoccuptions.
I will take rest and refreshment in your presence Lord.
The Word of God
Reading 1 rv 1:1-4; 2:1-5
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him,
to show his servants what must happen soon.
He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
who gives witness to the word of God
and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud
and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message
and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.
John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace
from him who is and who was and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before his throne.
I heard the Lord saying to me:
“To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write this:
“‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand
and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this:
“I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,
and that you cannot tolerate the wicked;
you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not,
and discovered that they are impostors.
Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name,
and you have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you:
you have lost the love you had at first.
Realize how far you have fallen.
Repent, and do the works you did at first.
Otherwise, I will come to you
and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”’”
to show his servants what must happen soon.
He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
who gives witness to the word of God
and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud
and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message
and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.
John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace
from him who is and who was and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before his throne.
I heard the Lord saying to me:
“To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write this:
“‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand
and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this:
“I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,
and that you cannot tolerate the wicked;
you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not,
and discovered that they are impostors.
Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name,
and you have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you:
you have lost the love you had at first.
Realize how far you have fallen.
Repent, and do the works you did at first.
Otherwise, I will come to you
and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”’”
Responsorial Psalm ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R. (Rev. 2:17) Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Gospel lk 18:35-43
As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me!”
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
“What do you want me to do for you?”
He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”
Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me!”
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
“What do you want me to do for you?”
He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”
Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
Listen to audio of this reading Watch a video reflection Conversation
Remembering that I am still in God's presence,
I imagine Jesus himself standing or sitting beside me,
and say whatever is on my mind, whatever is in my heart,
speaking as one friend to another.
Conclusion
I imagine Jesus himself standing or sitting beside me,
and say whatever is on my mind, whatever is in my heart,
speaking as one friend to another.
Conclusion
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
______________________________________
Subscriber? Login to view archives.
It’s probably no surprise that many people shy away from the Book of Revelation. It’s full of graphic language about cosmic events that we find hard to identify, let alone identify with! We are dimly aware that some religious leaders have identified certain world leaders and institutions (including the Soviet Union, the United Nations, and even the Roman Catholic Church) with the evil forces portrayed in Revelation. Others have used this book to make specific predictions about what will happen in the future. And when these predictions fail to materialize (at least in the anticipated way), new theories are born. So how could ordinary believers like ourselves hope to make sense of this puzzling book?
Actually, Revelation wasn’t so puzzling to John’s first readers. Most of them were familiar with imagery like the moon turning to blood and stars falling from the sky. Earlier writers had used word pictures like these to talk about God’s action in bringing down power-hungry empires and upending a status quo in which the rich continued to exploit the poor.
Because they themselves were being persecuted for proclaiming Jesus as Lord rather than Caesar, John’s readers knew that he was using language that could both veil and reveal. A pagan reader might have dismissed Revelation as little more than an imaginative story. But a faithful Christian would have found assurance in it that God had not abandoned his people. He was very much at work, moving history forward to its climax when Jesus would return in glory. This vision of a world totally renewed in the love of its Creator gave them hope in their darkest hours.
As we turn again to the Book of Revelation at the end of the Church year, let’s catch the spirit of those early followers. Let’s look up to see the Lamb enthroned, eager to transform us and our world in the light of his glory. He is coming soon! Let’s be sure our preparations for his return are motivated by that “first love,” the love that Jesus had for us before we even began to respond to him.
“Come, Lord Jesus! Make me ready and eager to welcome you, both in my day today and when you return to bring me to your heavenly home.”
Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Luke 18:35-43
_______________________________________________
my2cents:
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
______________________________________
Meditation: Revelation 1:1-4; 2:1-5
View NAB Reading at USCCB.orgSubscriber? Login to view archives.
Article Tools
- Text Size
- Print-Friendly
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
The appointed time is near. (Revelation 1:3)It’s probably no surprise that many people shy away from the Book of Revelation. It’s full of graphic language about cosmic events that we find hard to identify, let alone identify with! We are dimly aware that some religious leaders have identified certain world leaders and institutions (including the Soviet Union, the United Nations, and even the Roman Catholic Church) with the evil forces portrayed in Revelation. Others have used this book to make specific predictions about what will happen in the future. And when these predictions fail to materialize (at least in the anticipated way), new theories are born. So how could ordinary believers like ourselves hope to make sense of this puzzling book?
Actually, Revelation wasn’t so puzzling to John’s first readers. Most of them were familiar with imagery like the moon turning to blood and stars falling from the sky. Earlier writers had used word pictures like these to talk about God’s action in bringing down power-hungry empires and upending a status quo in which the rich continued to exploit the poor.
Because they themselves were being persecuted for proclaiming Jesus as Lord rather than Caesar, John’s readers knew that he was using language that could both veil and reveal. A pagan reader might have dismissed Revelation as little more than an imaginative story. But a faithful Christian would have found assurance in it that God had not abandoned his people. He was very much at work, moving history forward to its climax when Jesus would return in glory. This vision of a world totally renewed in the love of its Creator gave them hope in their darkest hours.
As we turn again to the Book of Revelation at the end of the Church year, let’s catch the spirit of those early followers. Let’s look up to see the Lamb enthroned, eager to transform us and our world in the light of his glory. He is coming soon! Let’s be sure our preparations for his return are motivated by that “first love,” the love that Jesus had for us before we even began to respond to him.
“Come, Lord Jesus! Make me ready and eager to welcome you, both in my day today and when you return to bring me to your heavenly home.”
Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Luke 18:35-43
my2cents:
When is the last time you gave thanks to God for the gift of sight? Being among some that have had strokes of sorts that begin to lose sight, life is challenged. And so the question remains, "when is the last time you thanked our Lord for being able to see?". Now wait just a minute there. Surely, you were not thinking of seeing with your physical eyes right? Because what transpires today in the Holy Gospel is the gift of sight...that is to say, seeing Jesus and following Him. We read today in the 1st Holy Scripture '...blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is in it". So the only way you will see is if you listen. The blind man heard, he listened, and this was the beginning of him being able to see. The Psalm will then say "The victorious I will feed from the tree of Life". And from the tree of Life, Jesus, we heard again from His lips but will we listen? Listen you blind fool, blinded and fooled by the ways and thoughts of the world, listen! (I say that to myself but everyone that is a sinner too) Listen so that you too will see and follow the Way. Listen to how the fact we can keep others from God by being so-called followers. Listen at all those that were telling the blind to shut up. Listen, because your sins are leading into a pit of fire. Day after day, God shows you His love. How can I see it though? In ancient Jewish thought, those with sicknesses like blindness was thought to have been brought upon because of sin, either that person's own sins or the poor man's parents or somewhere down the line. What we ought to be listening for here is God's mercy. Because the healing is about to come for those that listen. Probably the greatest enemy against Christians is themselves. They don't seem to be on the same page on certain issues, and the remainder that seal the deal...the silent ones. By being silent, and silencing others to "chill out", seals the deal and lets sin grow. It's like suffering symptoms of a sickness and trying to just tough it out without figuring out what is causing it, until it could be too late. Take this from the Book of Revelation, a revelation that would be forever, God listens to those who listen for His Mercy. The blind man heard, and just knew Jesus was there. Even though he couldn't see, he believed. It is the same for you and me. Just because we can't see Him doesn't mean He isn't there in all His Glory, especially when He is feeding us in a Holy Mass. Yet, the Heavens open up and He is there. Raise your hands and call out to Jesus. Raise your hands and surrender your sinful self. Raise up your hands to be picked up by your daddy. Raise up your voice to be pacified with peace. I know my baby looks to me with his eyes that remind me of mine, and he cries out and beats his chest with one hand as if to say "pick me up". We all need a pick me up, don't we? Jesus is the one who picks us up, raises us up. Only He can do this, and it is awesome. Don't let your faith be silenced. Don't let Jesus be taken from you by complying with worldly thoughts and ways. Let your faith be exlaimed blessed is the one who reads the Word, and those who listen. What is rightly yours is your Father's arms. To see Him is everything. I was telling a young man after a wedding in the Catholic Church this weekend to talk to God and to listen. Everyone was telling him to go away from me, "hey, you need go go with family to take pictures on the altar" and he said no. My eyes were opened up to this man's eyes that were opened up. He chose the better part, not the looks, but the truth that was being said, he was listening. "No one has ever told me the things your're telling me" he would say. And I said what I often say "I don't know why I'm telling you these things, it must be from God". This is the power of proclamation, and those who accept God talking. We play both parts, listener and proclaimer. I know I need to listen more than I talk, that's why God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth. And so when I catch His eyes, I too will call out "Jesus, have pity on me! I am a poor sinner, and I NEED YOU SO !"
adrianSubscribe
