< <  

Monday, July 4, 2011

  > >

St. Elizabeth of Portugal


Genesis 28:10-22
Psalm 91:1-4, 14-15
Matthew 9:18-26

View Readings
Similar Reflections

sleeping on rocks

"Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep at that spot." —Genesis 28:11

Jacob used a rock for a pillow and went to sleep. In a dream, God gave Jacob a revelation about the meaning of his life. When Jacob awoke, he took the rock he had used for a pillow and anointed it with oil (Gn 28:18).

This Scripture passage prefigures Jesus. Jesus is the Rock (1 Cor 10:4). He is "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (Jn 14:6). He alone reveals to us the meaning of our lives. He is the Anointed One, the Christ, the Messiah. Jesus is the Fulfillment of the Old Testament.

Jesus is not only prefigured by Jacob's rock; Jesus is also the new Adam (Rm 5:17), greater than Abraham (Jn 8:58), the new Moses (Acts 3:22), the new Elijah, and the Son of David. Jesus is the Star of David, the Lily of the valley, and the Rose of Sharon (Sg 2:1). Jesus is Emmanuel, God-with-us (Is 7:14). He is "our Wisdom and also our Justice, our Sanctification, and our Redemption" (1 Cor 1:30).

Jesus is the Scapegoat (Lv 16:20ff), the Paschal Lamb of God (Jn 1:29), the Cornerstone (Ps 118:22) and the Altar, the Temple (Jn 2:21) and the great High Priest (Heb 3:1). Jesus is the great I AM (Ex 3:14). He is God (Jn 10:30). "To the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!" (Rv 5:13) Praise Jesus! Alleluia!

Prayer:  Jesus, if not for You, I would be nothing. I adore You.

Promise:  "My daughter has just died. Please come and lay Your hand on her and she will come back to life." —Mt 9:18

Praise:  St. Elizabeth followed the way of peace by bringing peace to all those around her. She particularly made peace between her son and grandson.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape on Developing a Deep Personal Relationship with Jesus on audio AV 52-1 or video V-52.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 1, 2011

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.