We serve a merciful God

Readings for Monday November 17, 2008

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, religious

First Reading:  Revelation 1:1-4, 2:1-5

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 1 

Gospel:  Luke 18:35-43

Throughout history, our Lord Jesus has brought healing to many people in the world.  During His time on earth, we read about many of His miracles performed, such as today's gospel reading in regards to the blind man who is given sight.  The blind man in today's gospel, even before his healing actually had better sight than most of us who have sight do sometimes.  For when he heard that Jesus was there, he saw through his eyes of faith and was relentless in asking for Christ's help.  When Jesus asked the blind man what he wanted, it was granted out of love and mercy by our Lord.  These sorts of works are written about throughout the gospels, and we even have evidence of Christ's works of mercy after His death and resurrection.  The lives of the saints are filled with these sorts of miracles and cures.  

While Jesus brings us hope in physical and mental curing, there is one sort of healing that He gives us that is the most important of all ... and that is of spiritual healing.  We serve such a merciful God, and He knows how much we need to have a healthy soul in order to serve Him.  Sin causes our soul's to get become dirty and grimy and broken, it is through repenting and going to reconciliation that we are able to be spiritually healed.  This is why in the book of Revelation today, Saint John makes the case for the importance of repenting.  When we do wrong, it is essential for us to say that we are sorry to God and ask for His mercy.  

While we may be physically or mentally hurting, none of these healings will matter unless we are willing to work on our heart  and soul.  For it is our relationship with God (our spirituality) that is what will get us to heaven, not our superb intellect or physical ability.  We must always look to seek out God first in or lives and to take care of what is truly important.  For we must remember that our lives here on earth are only a temporary residence, and there is a far greater life ahead that the Lord has prepared ... if we are willing to follow Him.  

Praise the Lord that we serve a merciful God!

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day, we praise you for your love and mercy.  Lord help us to follow you without growing weary and without hesitation.  Lord we pray for all those seeking you in their lives, and for those wishing to go deeper with you.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.