We are blessed when we give after we receive

The Feastday celebration of St Elizabeth of Hungary, with the theme Service To Others With Christ’s Joy from Nov 15 to 17, culminated on Nov 18 with Mass and Procession at the Church of St Elizabeth.

Bishop Bernard Paul was the celebrant on Nov 18. Parish priest, Fr Louis Chin and Fr Joe Matthews OFM, Cap were the concelebrants.

In his homily, Bishop Bernard described the difference between life and death in a tale of the Sea of Galilee (North) and the Dead Sea (South). The prelate said there were many fish for the people living around the Sea of Galilee, but there were no fish or people around the Dead Sea. Why is one full of life and the other one not?

The Sea of Galilee has an outlet; water flows in and out, but the Dead Sea has no outlet. The prelate said, in life, there must be receiving and giving. Life flows inside us when we give. If we only take and never give, it will be like the Dead Sea, with no oxygen and no life.

“St Elizabeth shared the love of God. She always believed in caring for the poor and became the channel of hope for others. She received and she gave; there is a flow,” said Bishop Bernard.

Speaking briefly about the life of Elizabeth of Hungary, the prelate said she married into a noble family, and her husband became a king. She served the country, especially the poor. She became a channel of love to others.

Whatever she had, she continued to give and share. She also set up missions of charity.

“Today, we have this mentality: We think of taking, but not of giving back. Yet in life, if we give and bless someone, God also blesses us in return.” Bishop Bernard gave the example of fruit trees. The more fruit they produce, they grow. Human beings take and take, yet do not know how to give.”

The prelate said, “there are two things we can learn from St Elizabeth, that is, when we give, we receive. Be like her. The more you give, the more graces you will receive, because giving generates blessing.

“Sow the good things and good things will come back to you. Don’t stop loving others. This heart of yours is created to love. If you stop loving, your heart will turn hard and cold inside.”

After Mass, a procession in honour of St Elizabeth was led by Bishop Bernard Paul and Fr Chin in the vicinity of the parish. St Elizabeth of Hungary is also known as the patron saint of bakers, beggars, brides, charities, death of children, the homeless, hospitals, Sisters of Mercy and widows.

Fr Chin, on behalf of the parish community, thanked the prelate and all present, who came from far and near.

He also commended all those involved in the feastday celebration.

Fr Chin also explained that “A Bread For Help” is a parish project aimed to help the poor by symbolising the donation as bread. Three boxes of buns were brought to be blessed by Bishop Bernard Paul and distributed to the faithful. There was also a donation box. The money collected would go to POHD to help the poor migrants and the poor locals around the area.

To conclude the celebration, everyone was invited to a fellowship dinner in the parish grounds. Bishop Bernard and Fr Chin took time to mingle and chat with the parishioners and pilgrims present.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online