First Sunday, February 22

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8-9

So we Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture, will give Thee thanks forever; we will show forth Thy praise to all generations.

Psalm 79:13

My grandmother’s name was Elizabeth Sekeres. She came from Hungary at a very young age with hardly a penny in her pocket. Like most immigrants to America, she lived a simple life and worked very hard. Grandma’s maiden name was Kiss, rather whimsical and romantic, but the name belied her nature. She was actually fearless and determined, having developed amazing strength through adversity. Here are two things I learned as I witnessed her faith:

First, attend worship - My mother was often annoyed and anxious when grandma, a widow and quite elderly, would travel on five different buses to get to mass at the Holy Cross Hungarian Roman Catholic Church in the Delray section of Detroit. Grandma loved it there, everyone spoke Hungarian and it was home to her. The church was lovely, a jewel in a neighborhood losing its battle with industrial pollution and crime. There were Hungarian saints depicted in the stained glass windows and biblical frescoes on the walls. The day of grandma’s funeral the church bells tolled in her honor for all of Delray to hear.

Second, always remember to pray - Grandma whispered prayers in Hungarian without ceasing. Riding in the car, making stuffed cabbage or chicken paprikash I often heard her prayers punctuated by “En Uram en Istenam!” “My Lord and My God!”

In December 2013 my husband and I attended the baptism of our grandson Leonardo in Florence, Italy. There were eleven family members who gathered in a small Romanesque church on a hill. During the ceremony the priest held up the lighted baptismal candle and said: “Receive the light of Christ.” To our wonder and delight Leo leaned forward out of his father’s arms and grasped the candle. In the candlelight I could see his other grandmother Savina smiling. I thought of all the generations that had brought us to this moment, all the lessons in faith we had learned from those who came before us. Such a circle of grace surrounded us and now a new life of faith was beginning.

Prayer: Lord, help us through faith and grace to let your light shine as your teachings are passed on by our example to our children and our children’s children. Amen.

Colleen Elizabeth Fisher