16 October, Friday — Inheritance

Oct 16 – Memorial for St. Hedwig, Religious; Memorial for St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin

St. Hedwig (1174–1243) was the daughter of the Duke of Croatia, and aunt of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. She married Prince Henry I of Silesia and Poland in 1186 at the age of 12, and became the mother of seven. She cared for the sick both personally and by founding hospitals. Upon her husband’s death, she gave away her fortune and entered the monastery at Trebnitz.

• Patron Saint Index

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690) was healed from a crippling disorder by a vision of the Blessed Virgin, which prompted her to give her life to God. After receiving a vision of Christ fresh from the Scourging, she was moved to join the Order of the Visitation by Paray-le-Monial in 1671.

She received a revelation from our Lord in 1675, which included 12 promises to her and to those who practiced a true devotion to His Sacred Heart, whose crown of thorns represent his sacrifices. The devotion encountered violent opposition, especially in Jansenist areas, but has become widespread and popular.

The Twelve Promises of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary for those devoted to His Sacred Heart are:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honoured.
10. I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under any displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

Patron Saint Index

Eph 1: 11-14
Lk 12: 1-7

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will

In these past months, I have been busy and distracted with many things. This has all to do with money. The evil ‘M’ word!

With my uncle’s passing in July, my aunt has been busy sorting out my uncle’s will. My aunt is very fortunate. My uncle took care of all her physical and financial needs – in life and death. She will never be in need of anything financially for the rest of her twilight years. However, I feel that she doesn’t fully appreciate this blessing. She sees it as her rightful inheritance. She deserves it ‘for all the years that she looked after him, cooked, and cleaned the house for him’. This she would tell everyone. Yes, of course whatever belonged to my uncle, now belongs to my aunt as his wife. But conversely, my uncle was under no obligation to leave her anything. He could have willed all he owned to his siblings, nephews and nieces (on his side of the family) or to a local charity.  

What really bothers me is how she uses her new position to exert control on people around her. She uses money to buy affection, she mentioned to someone. Very sad. For this reason, I find it extremely hard to be around her, and have stayed away from her since my uncle’s passing. What I really want for her is to know the love and forgiveness of our Saviour. To obtain the heritance of God our Father.

The Jews were the chosen ones by God. They were the ones God gave the Law to. They were the ones God had taken an interest in. They were the ones who had the Old Testament and the Prophets. Indeed, the Jews have obtained an inheritance. However, they took their position for granted. They thought that just because they were ‘the chosen ones’, they were confident of their place and position.

However, a Jew will not be granted an inheritance because he/she is Jewish. If the Jew is to have an inheritance from God, it comes through, and because of, Jesus Christ. To fully gain this inheritance, to accept Jesus as the Messiah, they would need to give up their god of position and tradition. This was something they could not do; they could not give this god up. So rather than seeing Christ clearly and loving Him perfectly, they turned back to the gods of their own imagination and crucified the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

But before we get all riled up, know that this was in God’s sovereign plan. St. Paul says, it is in Christ…in this crucified Jesus Christ that the Jew has hope. Hope can be had because they have been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. The Jew can have a right standing with God, not because he is a Jew, but because Jesus Christ came to the earth to save sinners and to unite all things.

In him ….You too have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit. The pledge of our inheritance.

Being sealed by the Holy Spirit, we are in God’s kingdom forever. We should be secure in Christ alone. How is that then people like my aunt and also me – feel that our futures are so insecure unless we hold onto our gods – be it wealth, position or popularity? God is not glorified when we trust or feel secure in our abilities. He is not glorified when we look at the amount of money in our bank account. I admit, I have been worrying too much after my future. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than hundreds of sparrows. This verse in today’s gospel brings me much hope and comfort.

Brothers and sisters, we have an inheritance from God. This is far beyond any inheritance anyone on earth can give us. However, like the Jews, we cannot take this for granted. It is only when we live a life in Jesus Christ, to trust Christ as Saviour and Lord and glorify God, that we can then receive this inheritance.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Geraldine Nah)

Prayer: Lord, open my ears to hear your word, open my heart to believe it, so that I may be included in the inheritance of the saints.

Thanksgiving: Thank you God our Father, for the gift of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit!