Nothingness is destructive. Emptiness is creative.
“I have nothing…” “The jar…shall not go empty.” Nothingness and emptiness – is there a difference? To speak of nothing brings to mind a sense of desolation and darkness. Emptiness on the other hand, isn’t so desperate; something empty can be filled: my car’s on “E”, but I fill up at the gas station! Although we may describe times of our life interchangeably using nothingness or emptiness, they have different meanings for Christians.
Our first reading recounts the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. The context is this: the Jewish people stopped worshipping the true God to follow false gods, along with the high-ups of society exploiting the poor. So, the Prophet Elijah informs the king that there will be a drought until they repent. And Elijah flees the kingdom to hide. From hiding in pagan territory he meets a woman. We find she’s both a widow and a single mother. (Widows in the ancient world were the poorest of the poor.) It is to this sort of woman that Elijah does what? He asks for water in a drought! He asks for food from a woman scraping by! He wants to take the last bit of food from a starving child! (suite…)
The Miraculous Healing of Eyes
The miraculous healing of my eyes gives me constant joy in my life. Before the healing, I wore glasses from 1991 to 2006 in Burundi. So I carried them for fifteen years. Then they were broken on August 21, 2006.
At that time, I could not see someone beyond five meters. After that I went to the eye doctor. After consultation, he immediately ordered eyeglasses from abroad. For this reason, I had to wait for the new glasses about three weeks. In addition, it was the time of the Charismatic Prayer Conference lead by Jean Pliya from Benin. He was preaching about healing and Gospel faith. Therefore many sick people were healed and I was one of them.
I looked forward to the new glasses, and I joined in that charismatic prayer planned for a week. The healing of my eyes took place during the time of the procession of the Blessed Sacrament. It was the time of the prayer healing. Jesus in the Holy Sacrament healed me at that time. I told him, “Jesus, let me see you.” Suddenly I felt something changed in my eyes, and I could see clearly a little further. As soon as I saw the people a little farther, I became so upset. Additionally, that miraculous healing of my eyes during the prayer healing happened on the day the eyeglasses arrived, on October 5, 2006. Indeed it was a miraculous healing. For instance, when I tried to put on my new glasses, they were not matched to my eyes. Rather I felt better without them. So I have gradually healed. After that, on December 19, 2006, I went again to the doctor, Dr.Bireha. He realized that my eyes were healed and certified the cure by supporting medical documents.
After the healing, on December 21, 2006, I testified to the cure in a Liturgy called “Thanksgiving “ for all people who had been healed during that time. Finally, I put away the glasses.
In conclusion, the miraculous healing of my eyes caused the endless joy in my life.
By Sister Fides Nijimbere B.M








