DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Reading the Liturgy Tuesday, November 17, 2015
PES. Elisabeth of Hungary, the Nuns

Reading 1: 2Mak 6: 18-31
There is a prominent scribe named Eleazar. He was elderly and very respectable. He was forced to open his mouth to eat pork. But he prefers to die with honor rather than live insult.
Then he spewed unclean flesh and willingly go to a flogging. Indeed, so should the actions of people who dared to reject what is not lawful to instinctively tasted although he loves his life. But officials are not kosher banquet sacrifices it has long been familiar with Eleazar. Therefore they isolate Eleazar, then told him to take the meat may be used and that he can provide his own. Then from the flesh it is enough if he pretended to eat what the king commanded.
Thus his life will be saved, and he will be treated well for the sake of old friendship. But Eleazar took the noble decision that is inappropriate for their age, for the honor of his age, for his gray crystal clear and very noble,  appropriate for his way clear from his youth, and especially inappropriate for the sacred law given by God himself. Resolutely he asked for, so that is immediately sent to the world of the dead. Said Eleazar, "Pretend it is inappropriate for our age, lest many youths have gone astray because they think that Eleazar already ninety years old, turning to the procedures for foreigners. Perhaps they have gone astray by pretending for the sake of life short and ephemeral. In addition, I bring a stain and a disgrace to my age. Even now I escaped from the vengeance of man,
but it is unlikely I escaped from the hands of the Almighty, both living and dead. Therefore from the die as a male I want to express myself worthy of my age.
Thus I will leave the noble example for young people to willingly died to the law that is noble and holy. "
Having said so, Eleazar directly to the place of torment. As for those few moments before being kind to her, now hostile to him because according to them Eleazar was talking like a crazy person.
After beaten almost to death, Eleazar groan, he said, "For God has knowledge of the sacred, it turns out that I can escape from death, and that I now suffer great in my body as a result of flogging this. But in the soul I suffer these things willingly
for I fear God. "
Thus Eleazar passed away and left her death as an example of nobility and a memorial of virtue, not only for the young,
but also for most people of his nation.
Thus saith the Lord.

Psalms: Psalm 3: 2-7
God who sustains me.
* O Lord, how many are my foes! How many people who rise up against me; many people say about me,
"For him there was no help from God."
* But, Lord, Thou art a shield that protects me, Thou art my glory, thou lift up my head! I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.
* So I can lie down and sleep; and then wake up again because God sustain me! I'm not afraid to tens of thousands of people who surround me on all sides.

Introduction to the Gospel 1 Jn 4: 10b
God loves us and has sent his Son
in reparation for our sins.

Gospel: Luke 19: 1-10:
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. There had been a head of very rich tax collector named Zacchaeus. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but did not succeed because of the crowd, and he was short-bodied. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree
to see Jesus who would pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly. Today I want to stay at your house." Zaccheus came down, and received him joyfully. But everyone who saw it, they grumble, he said,
"He has gone in to sinners." But Zacchaeus stood up and said to God, "Lord, half of mine will give to the poor,
and if I have cheated anyone, I will give back four times as much. "
Jesus said to him, "Today salvation came to pass over this house, because this man was a son of Abraham. The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."
Thus the Gospel of the Lord.

Afterthought
A mother fortunate to hearings with the Pope in Rome. He had the opportunity to shake hands with him, the mother is so happy. On his return from the meeting with the Pope, he would not wash his hands. Do not do the blessing of the Pope carried on the current water sinks, so the confidence of the mother. One thing is clear from this story, a meeting with the great and holy as the Pope is meeting a very monumental and happy
In the Gospel today, Zacchaeus met not only the level of the pope, but even Jesus himself. Meeting with Jesus wants to come to the house of Zacchaeus changed his heart. He promised to give his wealth to the poor. So is if realized and lived well, an encounter with Jesus can really change people's hearts and makes it willing to share and serve sincerely.
It is also worth we look up from Saint Elizabeth of Hungary on the anniversary of this. Originally Elisabeth married life, but after her husband died died in the Crusades and their children deprived people, Elisabeth expelled from the palace, he chose to divide shared possessions were still there for the poor, lived as a member of the order three St. Francis and devote themselves to serving the sick , Encounter with God changes hearts Elisabeth to put their lives and service to others who are suffering.

Items to contemplation
Is not every day we also met the Lord Jesus? In the Holy Eucharist we actually welcome his Body, unfortunately, we often think of the Eucharist as a routine, a result encounter God in a Mass that is less impact on the change of life

Prayer
O God the Father, may the power of Your mercy, we are enabled to be compassionate to the poor, the poor and the marginalized. Amen.