(REMEMBER TO PRAY IN THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR YOUR RELATIVES, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED).
COLLECT: “O GOD, BY WHOSE GIFT SAINT ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY RECOGNIZED AND RECEIVED CHRIST IN THE POOR, GRANT, THROUGH HER INTERCESSION, THAT WE MAY SERVE WITH UNFAILING CHARITY THE NEEDY AND THOSE AFFLICTED. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
1Mac 1:10-15,41-43,54-57,62-64; Ps 118:53,61,134,150,155,158 and Lk 18:35-43.
Saint Elizabeth, whom we celebrate today, at 14 was married to Ludwig IV of Thuringia. For the intense Elizabeth, it was a happy marriage. The family tried to follow the ideals of Francis of Assisi. As Elizabeth was expecting their third child, Ludwig died in the Crusades. Elizabeth became a Franciscan tertiary, founded a hospital in honour of Saint Francis, and dedicated herself totally to the care of the poor. She was only 24 years old when she died. She is the Patroness of the Franciscan Third Order and of Catholic Charities.
In today’s first reading from 1 Maccabees 1:10 ff, Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Madman) seeks to introduce Hellenism (that is, the culture and language of the Greeks) into Palestine to abolish Jewish law and religion. However, many Jews resolved to resist such oppression.
Today’s Gospel presents to us a blind man who is looking for sight. Accordingly, beggars in Israel at that time would wait along the roads near the cities because that was where they could contact the most people. Usually, physically challenged in some way, beggars were unable to earn a living. Medical assistance was not available for them, and people tended to ignore their obligation to care for the needy. This is confirmed in Lev 25:35-38. Such beggars had little hope of escaping their degrading way of life.
However, this blind beggar took hope and a lot of courage in the Messiah. He shamelessly but with faith and courage, cried out for Jesus’ attention, and Jesus said to him: “’ Have sight; your faith has saved you’. He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God”.Even when the people in front scolded the blind man and told him to keep quiet, he did not but shouted all the more, louder. In a sense, he did not allow anyone or anything to prevent him or to be a stumbling block on his way to receiving his favours from the Saviour.
Please, let us learn from him and make our ‘stumbling blocks’ our ‘stepping stones’ and/or our ‘starters’ towards our progress and salvation. Do not, and please, never allow anyone to be a stumbling block on your way to progress.
One can imagine the excitement of the just-recovered-blind-beggar-man, as he followed Jesus and praised God, maybe at the top of his voice. In giving sight to this blind man, it seemed that Jesus gained a new disciple, for the former beggar, in his warmth, followed Jesus, giving glory to God.
I hope this fervour or warmth feeling of his never waned or wore out during the rest of his life as one who could now see. Yes, his faith indeed saved him, his faith led him to regain his sight. It is faith in Jesus that brings us to follow him. If our faith in Jesus is deep and strong, come what may, we are ready to endure all things, remain faithful in following him.
In the portion of the Second Book of Maccabees we reflect on today, the faith of many of the people (Jews) is so strong that they are willing to even die for it. Is my own faith that strong for the Lord?
Let us learn from today’s scriptures and sincerely evaluate ourselves regarding our commitment to our Christian calling. At our baptism, confirmation, ordination, marriage (wedding day) or immediately after receiving any of the Sacraments, as well as when we receive or experience any favour/blessing from God, we become highly excited, highly elated, like the blind man.
Do we remain in that fervour, elation and excitement, or do we lose it, thereby no longer showing love for God and neighbour, for that matter? Let us not be complacent. We need to constantly keep the flame of our warm feeling for the Lord and our strong love, faith and commitment for him constantly burning in our lives.
Let us rekindle the light of Christ in us so that we may not be taken by surprise at our end times. May Saint Elizabeth of Hungary intercede for us. Stay blessed and happy feast to all who bear the name Elizabeth.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, MONDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS)
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “MAY THE WORKING OF THIS DIVINE SACRAMENT ENLIGHTEN AND INFLAME US, ALMIGHTY GOD, ON THIS FEAST DAY OF THE BLESSED ELIZABETH, THAT WE MAY BE EVER FERVENT WITH HOLY DESIRES AND ABOUND IN GOOD WORKS. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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