>>> St ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY – Pray for US!
WEEPING FOR A HARDHEARTED WORLD
Introduction
Daughter of the King of Hungary, Elizabeth (1207-1231) was given in marriage at the age of 14 to the count of Thuringia in what could be called an ideal marriage. She devoted most of her time and the resources of her husband to the sick and the poor. At her husband’s death, she was driven away from the castle, her children ware taken away from her and she shared the life of the poor. She died at the age of 24. We can learn from her what it means to be poor.
Opening Prayer
God, lover of the poor,
fill us with your own gratuitous love,
as you showed us in St. Elizabeth of Hungary.
Teach us to love and bless
even those who maltreat us.
Indeed, deepen and widen our limited love,
and make it without measure, like yours,
that we may be called sons and daughters
of you, the Most High,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading REVELATION 5:1-10
I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it. I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it. One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.” Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders a Lamb that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world. He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. They sang a new hymn: “Worthy are you to receive the scroll and break open its seals, for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.”
Responsorial PSALM 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B
R. (Rev. 5:10) The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God. or: Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. R.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory. R.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. R.
Alleluia PSALM 95:8
Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LUKE 19:41-44
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
Commentary
From Tears to Hope
Today’s readings are full of tears. John weeps over the realization that no human being is worthy to open the scrolls and break the seals. Following his triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem, Jesus pauses for a moment and weeps over the destiny of the city brought about by its failure to discern God’s ways. When one looks around the world and sees the many human atrocities happening, one can only shed tears over the hardheartedness of humanity. One wonders if a transformation is possible. However, those with faith can never lose hope. As John realized soon, there was, indeed, someone worthy to open the Book: The Lamb that was slain, yet alive and standing. Jesus, having shed tears, would soon break open the doors of salvation not only for Jerusalem, but for the entire world: for any person willing to believe in him. This is the hope that must keep us going even as we fight darkness.
Intercessions
– Lord, we regret and ask pardon that at times we have been negligent and cold to your love; forgive us, we pray:
– Lord Jesus, that those who have heard your call to follow you and refused to respond may again be ready to journey with you, we pray:
– Lord Jesus, that our communities may again heed your call to be one of heart and mind, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Compassionate God,
you set for us the table of your Son
as a sign of love open to all,
even and especially to the poor.
As we have accepted your invitation,
may we also accept all its consequences,
that your compassionate love
may become flesh and blood in us,
weak and fallible people,
and that it may benefit
the most destitute and abandoned.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
Lord, our hospitable God,
you have let us share the table of your Son.
Let this mean for us that, like St. Elizabeth,
we have also to share our table
with the humble and the dispossessed,
even with people who are difficult and not very lovable.
Inspire us to help them back on their feet
and to restore to them that which no one can dispense with:
self-esteem, self-confidence,
and the indestructible courage
to be human persons.
Grant this through Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
We are asked to recognize the coming of the Lord not in a long ago past but now, today, in our lives and our communities. May God give you this grace and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!