ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY I I 17.11.2022 - THURSDAY I REV. FR. AROKIA DOS...

Bible Reflections I 17.11.2022 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 33

Readings 

            I - Rev. 5: 1-10

           II - Lk. 19: 41-44.

       

RECOGNISE THE LORD AS HE COMES 

                  

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. She is the patron saint of beggars, bakers, charities, homeless people, hospitals, widows, and brides. She is also known as St. Elizabeth of Thuringia. She lost her mother when she was six years. With the death of her mother Elizabeth’s perspective of life and death changed completely and she began to seek peace with prayer. She was married to Ludwig, a noble man whom she loved deeply. They had three children and one of them embraced the religious life. St. Elizabeth devoted her life to prayer and works of charity. Taken up by the life of St. Francis of Assisi, she lived a simple, austere and charitable life. In 1226 when floods and disease struck Thuringia, she took care of the victims and built hospital for them. It is said that during one of her trips delivering bread to the poor in secret, her husband Ludwig met her and enquired her with questions to erase everyone's suspicions that she was stealing treasures from the castle. He asked her to reveal the contents under her cloak, and as she did a vision of white and red roses was seen. To Ludwig, this incident manifested God's protection. St. Elizabeth is depicted with a basket of bread to show her love for the poor and hungry. St. Elizabeth was canonised by Pope Gregory IX on May 27, 1235. 

In today’s Gospel passage Jesus weeps over Jerusalem because Jerusalem failed to recognise the presence of the Promised one in its midst. The more he wanted to gather, the more they scarred and went far away from him. Every day during the Eucharistic celebration, the Lord comes to us in the form of the Holy Eucharist, if we recognise him we will shine as Credible Christians like St. Elizabeth of Hungary in our love for God and neighbour. May the saint inspire to recognise God in every moment of life and in every person we meet.