Lord, Please Let Me See

November 17, 2008

Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

By Beth DeCristofaro

For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes. (Psalm 1:6)

…a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging …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!” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” (Luke 18:35-39, 42)

Piety

Let me see beyond the eyes of my body, my God. I want to see you, God, in all persons who are in need. Give me the eyes of your love. Amen. (From the Prayer of St. Elizabeth)

Study

Growing up with a name like Mary Elizabeth (and Confirmation choice of Ann), I had abundance of saints to draw upon for inspiration and modeling. The story of Elizabeth of Hungary, a princess who married a king, her true love, definitely appealed to me. She lived a simple life amid a dazzling court, visiting the sick and bringing food and necessities from her own belongings to those in need. One tale fascinated me with its romance and magic: Elizabeth, bringing food to the poor, was confronted by her husband who had become frustrated by her actions. When he demanded to see what she had wrapped in her cloak, Elizabeth opened the cloak to reveal roses, placed there by divine intervention, instead of bread. Elizabeth’s actions led to a deep religious commitment on the part of her husband; after his death she entered the Third Order of St. Francis and devoted her life to care of the sick

Elizabeth lived her life exemplifying a theme of today’s readings: choosing God. The psalmist sings of God’s love for those who choose the way of the just while those who choose wickedness separate themselves from God’s love. In the Gospel, the courageous blind man’s cry, his asking, his faith is recognized by Jesus and brings him his heart’s desire. And, in a sense, his healing brought the roses of conversion to the crowds around him.

Elizabeth of Hungary threaded her way through a court culture that was not only extremely secular, taken with pomp and luxury, but was at times dangerous for a young woman of religious conviction. She continued to choose the way of the just. As I grew I came to realize that the life of a saint is not a pretty fairy tale of love and just rewards. Our culture is as laden with temptation as was Elizabeth’s. Each day must be evaluated for it’s opportunities to find God. Through Cursillo prayer, study and action we can follow the song of the psalmist: the law of the LORD is their joy; God's law they study day and night (Psalm 1:2). By choosing God again and again we hope to hear the words of Jesus: your faith has saved you.

Do our actions, thoughts, wishes, prayers, produce roses? Might they be the source of inspiration to others to choose the just way? Where do we find our roses? Do we ignore the words of others who might be the door to choosing God because we perceive them to be “less than” or “other than” we are? Do we weigh what we do and seek the way of the just?

Action

Take the time to pray as the blind man did: “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” Ask for your eyes to be opened to the roses around you and to the needs around you. Let me not remain blinded by my own assumptions, rationalizations and prejudices.

Again this winter season, Fairfax County will partner with area churches to provide hyperthermia shelter for the homeless. What is your church community doing? Ask yourself, “What can I do to help those without cover as cold weather falls?”