Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious

Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and sisters, especially for strangers; they have testified to your love before the Church. Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey. For they have set out for the sake of the Name and are accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore, we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth.

Hospitality and friendliness toward strangers are virtues we all should strive for in our lives. Jesus was kind and welcoming to all who came to him, even those whom others saw as unclean, evil, or beneath their notice. Jesus did not care who a person was, he only saw the image of God within others and sought to renew and magnify that image in each person by showing them love and compassion. He supported all who came to him to the best of his abilities. He cured the sick, the lame, the possessed. He forgave sins. He poured out his graces and powers to bring as many as he could to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If we want to be true imitators of Jesus, then we must do the same for all whom we meet in this life. Willing to help the needy, comfort the sick and sorrowing, protect the weak, and be faithful witnesses to all who come to us for aid.

Are we hospitable and friendly even to those whom we do not know or like? How can transform our own hearts into the welcoming heart of Jesus? What can we do to magnify the Lord in ourselves and others?

O Lord, make us faithful in all we do for your brothers and sisters.

Amen.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."

We should be more welcoming to God and others. We should welcome God into our minds, hearts, and spirits. We should welcome others into our homes and lives. We would all be better off if the world with a more hospitable place where everyone loved each other to the best of their abilities. We can love others best by knowing, loving, and serving God and His children with humble and caring attitudes. Preaching, praying, acting righteously, and being compassionate and merciful are all ways we can receive God and others into our lives and bear good fruit in our relationships with them.

Are we receptive to having God in our lives? Are we welcoming of others? How can we show our hospitality to everyone so they can in turn see how welcoming God is to all peoples?

O Lord, let us receive you into our hearts so we can better give you to others through our preaching, praying, and acts of charity and mercy.

Amen.