Daily Gospel Reflection for November 17, 2016 - St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Today's Gospel: Luke 19, 41-44 - St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Many times in my life of 30 years, I have found myself in that confessional my knees aching, my eyes wet with tears, and my vulnerability laid bare. Many times have I separated myself from God; my mortal and venial sins caused my Lord to lament for me just like Jerusalem mentioned in today’s gospel.

Jesus weeps for His people and their choices; He feels the separation keenly when we tear ourselves away from His divine will. He also laments that our sins cause more damage than to just ourselves. Our sins affect the people surrounding us in this life. Our anger, pride, envy, gluttony, lust, sloth, and avarice wound our children, our parents, our friends, our spouses, and even strangers. Some of those wounds will carry from person to person. The cycle of sin is a heavy reality to ponder.

However, the sacraments especially those of Reconciliation and the Eucharist allow us to heal those wounds of sin. What is healing that wound? Sanctifying grace is the grace that flows from the sacraments. It is from God causing our souls to come alive and rekindle our love of Christ.

Let us not be like Jerusalem; let us recognize Christ in our life seeking out the sacraments and sanctifying grace. Let us not cause the lamentation of an all-loving, all-good, and majestic God.

Ponder:

How are your sins affecting those around you? How are you healing those relationships?

Pray:

Open my eyes, Lord, to see you; do not allow my fallen nature to overcome Your radiance. Open my heart to loving those around me by following Your commandments.

Copyright 2016 Ashley Woleben

Ashley is a wife, mother, friend, and traveler who is striving for holiness in this crazy world, chronicling and sharing life through her intellectual lens. She blogs at www.betweenthelinens.com, a place to find the beauty of experiences, strengths, weaknesses, and identifying those everyday moments of grace among the book piles.