There are two ways that we can consider today’s gospel reading. First
we can and we should look at these healings from the viewpoint of our own needs
and those of our family or friends and then ask the Lord for healing in
whatever area of our life. That is certainly valid. Ask, and you shall receive[1],
the Lord said. We can ask the Lord and receive His care[2].
But there is also a second
way we can and we should also look on: the viewpoint of the Lord. We are
called to be followers of Christ. We are called to love as He loves. We are
called to have compassion for the hurting. We are not called to judge the cause
of their pain. We are called to care for them. And yet, sadly, some of us will
say that a person’s condition is his or her own fault and then move on and away
from them. In other words: so many see the cause of the sickness and not the
sick people. Do those sick due to their own sinfulness merit less care from us
than other people? Of course not! At least, not if we are followers of Christ!
It's true: there are times when it is difficult to care for
a sick, especially caring for someone who is depressed or mentally ill –Alzheimer,
mental retardation, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc- yet in all the sick
person lives Jesus Christ.
On other Sundays we did self-examination on other issues:
today is the turn to think our attitude toward the sick, the sick in body but
also the sick in the soul.
When we get upset over how someone who is hurting or sick is
treating us, then we are more concerned about ourselves than about that person
who is sick; that wasn’t the way Jesus reacted to the sick, I mean He didn’t
care if the woman had a situation which would have caused the temple priests to
call Him defiled. He didn’t care if curing a person would get Him in trouble
with the Pharisees or the authorities. He didn’t care if He had to drop
everything and rush to the bedside of a little girl, enduring mockery in the
process.
Jesus only was only concerned about those who hurt and who
needed his healing.
Here in our parish we have a good number of people visiting
the sick, many ministers who help the pastor to bring Holy Communion to the
sick, many ministers who go to hospitals, but
we still need more! The treasure of the Church have always been children,
the sick, the needy, it is with them that Jesus was.
I feel very happy for the great support that we receive
every month for our Friendship House,
but sometimes I think that would make me happier if more parishioners told me:
"Father, I want to visit the sick. I want to take communion to those who
cannot come to the parish". I have the impression that sometimes the
pastor is pushing people to work with God, when in fact the Christians
themselves should take the lead.
If the love that unites us here every Sunday (we cannot forget that this is a matter of
love) does not lead us to care for others (sick, disabled, depressed, etc...)
Then we are wasting our time and we are not focused on what's important. As simple
as this!
When a person dies of loneliness or sadness, it has not
happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because
neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.
(Anyway) There is much to think, a lot food for thought. In
a moment we will receive the food for the soul: the Body and Blood of Christ: are
we ready to change our attitude towards the sick and those who need company and
help?
May God's Spirit help us to reflect deeply through these
things and help us to understand that we have an active participation in the
healing power of our Lord Jesus Christ! ■
