Friday – St. Cecilia

Gospel – Luke 19:45-48

Giving All They Had

Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

There’s a story about a little boy whose older sister was seriously ill; she desperately needed a blood transfusion but she had a rare blood type.  Luckily the boy had the same type.  So his parents asked if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.  He thought about it for a minute or so and then said “yes”.

The next day the nurse began to hook up the IV to his arm and the blood slowly started to through the tubing.  The boy then looked up at the nurse and he asked “When will I start to die?”

He thought he had been asked to give, not just his blood, but his life for his sister.  And he said YES!  He was willing to give his ‘all’, to give his life out of love for his sister.  What courage!  What faith!  What love!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes a clear and unambiguous statement:  This is a House of Prayer!  But you have turned it into den of thieves!   And then He proceeds to back up His words with action.  He spends every day teaching in the Temple!

St. Cecilia, today’s saint, also made a statement, one that echoed throughout her life.  She dedicated herself as a virgin to God at an early age.  Even when she was forcibly married, she converted her husband, along with other members of her family, by her faith and devotion and was martyred for her faith in the Third Century.  She also gave all she had!

Great Spirit, give me faith!  Help me to realize that You are directing my life, guiding me back to You and to the Kingdom of Heaven.