In moments of sickness

The story is told about an elderly man who makes a desperate and frantic call to the police: “Somebody has stolen my steering wheel and car radio! Even the whole dashboard is gone!” The responding policeman takes a look inside the car and radios: “False alarm. The old man mistakenly got into the back seat of his car!”

In today’s Gospel (Mk. 1, 40-45), a leper comes to Jesus and desperately begs Him to make him clean. In moments of sickness, we all need someone greater than ourselves to help us get well. We need to take the back seat, as it were, and let those who can help us take the driver’s seat. Sooner or later we all have to learn how to let go and to allow others to help us.

Sickness is God’s way of whispering to us what is really important in this life. When one checks into a hospital, one can only bring in so much, and pray that one checks out of the hospital alive. Yes, we were born with nothing, and we will leave this world with nothing, except the love that we have shared, and the faith in God that we have kept.

Today is World Day of the Sick. Let us remember and pray for people who have illnesses or infirmities of any kind. Let us also gratefully remember and pray for those who take care of and administer to the sick and the elderly. May God bless all those who are involved in the healing ministry.

We honor children who take care of their ailing parents or are given the opportunity to accompany them in their sunset years. It is a privilege to be given the chance for “payback time.”

This year, the coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season, a day of fasting and abstinence. We are urged to do more prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, especially at this time of the year. Remember, Lent is not just about you and God, but also about being in solidarity with others, especially the lost, the least and the last in our society.

Pope Francis has these suggestions on what true fasting is all about: “Fast from hurting words and say kind words. Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. Fast from anger and be filled with patience. Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. Fast from worries and have trust in God. Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity. Fast from pressures and be prayerful. Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy. Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others. Fast from grudges and be reconciled. Fast from words, and be silent so you can listen.”

I have done a lot of sick calls in my 37 years of priestly ministry. I brought the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to hospitals and to remote barrios, and even to scenes of roadside accidents. Whenever and wherever it was, I always saw the desperate look in the eyes of the recipients, and upon their being blessed, the desperation turning into hope and consolation.

This year, Ash Wednesday is also Valentine’s Day, reminding us that everything we do this Lenten season must be done from and with the heart. May all our praying, fasting, and almsgiving be done from our hearts, from our grateful and repentant hearts.

Think about this: “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. And keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.”

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, thank You for being there for us, especially in moments of sickness and suffering. Amen.