St Elizabeth was a princess, and mother, and wife, and widow. She gave away possessions and wealth to the poor. Which is amazing and unique in itself but she stepped down from her state and status as royalty and privilege and tended to the poor and sick herself. So, she not only gave material possessions, but her love for others was expressed in a physical and personal expression showing her undivided focus on the commandments and will of God.
For those without much this is not unheard of but for one with prestige and power and wealth it is unique. She had the Spirit within her and the light of Christ shining for others to see.
Our first reading of Maccabees shows how the chosen people began to be pulled away from their heritage and tradition and even their God by adopting the lifestyle and gods of the Greeks. They even went so far as to hide the mark of circumcision. Which at that time could mean physically covering the scar as they participated in athletic activities which were done naked and a circumcised man would be obvious. So, they hid their heritage and rejected their God and any sign of their relationship to him. They chose the darkness of fake gods and ways of living that did not allow for their God to be seen. They spiritually and physically rejected God. God was dead to them.
How different from the Gospel today when a man who lived in darkness, the blind man had the total faith and even called Jesus the Son of David, meaning he called him the Messiah, the one who the Jews believed would come and restore power and greatness to Israel.
So his call was not just a blind man calling out in need but one who already saw the light and truth when most of those around them still did not.
The light of Christ had already given him a sight into truth. So while the scene isn’t filled with Jesus making mud or telling him to go wash like the lepers. His first words were words of faith and light. And so, when Jesus asked him what does he want him to do for him… he says Lord please let me see. And Jesus says have sight; your faith has healed you.
The blind man had faith that was not often found, even today. He had trust and knew he could heal him.
Today we too our being asked to put away our God just like the time of Maccabees. It was one small step away from God and one small step toward the secular world around them. We put our trust in so many things today besides God. We spend money and our time and attention on so many other things today that do not bring us light. We ask questions to AI and stop asking God. We rely on technology and things to find peace and joy when real peace and joy only come from Jesus Christ. We lack clarity of trust and faith to see Jesus Christ as the only thing we need.
Life is filled with struggles and challenges. We choose how we will make our way through this world.
St Elisabeth is the model who shows us nothing is greater than God and love and living knowing all we need is really Jesus Christ.
The blind man shows us to have faith and nothing is impossible.
Our goal today is to trust Jesus Christ more. He will give us what we need. What do we want from Christ today.
Pray to God. Pray often. Keep praying and pray more if you are struggling. The train of our life could stop at the last station any minute now and we will be left in a place we don’t want to be.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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