Illness, especially chronic illness or terminal illness, old age, and failing strength seem to be our theme for this Sunday, especially in the First Reading and the Gospel.
The Book of Job speaks to us – “I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me”; “The night is long and I am full of tossing until the dawn.” This is the experience of people who have difficulty sleeping, either because of illness, pain, or anxiety. There are also those who, in their old age, can go to bed by let’s say 10 pm, but know that they will be up at 2 am or 3 am. Then they toss and turn, and have neither the need to sleep, nor the strength to get up. Some people lie in bed just to get in another hour or two of sleep. This is difficult, especially for those who have to get up in the morning, go to work, or take care of things around the house. This lack of a good sleep really takes a toll on the psyche; no wonder Job says “My eye will never again see good.”
Think of those whom you know who are chronically ill, or terminally ill, or are simply in long-term physical or psychological suffering. Our culture in many ways focuses on those who are physically fit, in good health and productive. Our terminally ill, elderly, chronically-ill or special needs brothers and sisters don’t get the same attention. They are at times difficult to visit, because we don’t know how to help them, how to take away their pain. At times they complain, talk about their illness, dwell on things of the past, or repeat the same aches and pains. Failing memories in failing bodies. Yet when we do make the time to visit our sick brothers and sisters, we are truly visiting Our Lord Jesus: “I was sick and you took care of me” says Our Lord at the Last Judgement.
In the Gospel – “long before daylight” as one translation puts it, Our Lord went up to pray in the desert. Long before daylight – that is when the night is coldest and darkest. We can imagine the cold air, and him in solitude, in communion with the Father. Imagine also Peter’s alarm, when he wakes up, finds the Master gone, and is confronted with people crowding in to be healed: “quick, find the healer!” This is why the Gospel says that Peter and his companions looked for Jesus diligently – “hunted for him” so to speak.
In the Gospel, Our Lord Jesus is truly the healer. He is attracting great crowds, and they come to him from the entire town. He not only takes away physical pain, but also casts out demons, ending spiritual bondage. Our Lord Jesus helps those who are suffering in spirit, those who are in spiritual chains. And in the midst of all this activity, Jesus finds the time to pray. Can we see our encounter with Christ in prayer as a healing encounter? We can encounter the Divine Healer in prayer. We sometimes look for him diligently, we hunt for him, as Peter and his companions did, but Christ Jesus is always present in prayer. While we don’t always get physical healing, Jesus always, always, wants to heal our spirit; so that instead of saying along with Job, “My eye will never again see good,” we can say instead, along with the psalm refrain – “Sing praises to the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.”
Next Sunday we will observe the World Day of the Sick, and also remember Our Lady of Lourdes. In the lead-up to these observances, let us remember those who are sick, those who are ill as well as those affected by chronic conditions. We pray that Our Lady, the Health of the Sick, may support with her maternal care all those who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit.
Today, on the 4th of February, we observe the memorial of St. Rabanus Maurus, a monk and scholar, who is the author of the hymn to the Holy Spirit – Veni Creator Spiritus. Let us ask the Holy Spirit, who is known as the Comforter and Advocate, to breathe upon our weakness, illness, and fatigue, and vivify us with divine energy.
When pain comes it takes great courage to trust in God’s goodness and kindness. And yet through our encounter with Christ in prayer, we too are strengthened and given hope. We ask you Lord, that the sick may be strengthened, the faint-hearted given hope, and that the Holy Spirit may come upon us with His power.
(Fr. Paweł Ratajczak, OMI, Feb. 4, 2024)