This Sunday, February 11, is the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. For this occasion, I have focused my weekly meditation on the experience of the sick and the fact that our faith assures us of God's closeness especially in times when we feel helpless.
Saint John Paul II was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease as early as 1991. Although this diagnosis was not revealed publicly until much later, it is significant that on May 13, 1992, His Holiness instituted the World Day of the Sick which has been celebrated annually since that time on February 11, the Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Perhaps it is not by coincidence that the scripture passages assigned for this Sunday’s Mass speak of those who are sick and suffering. In the first reading, taken from the Book of Leviticus, we hear the Lord’s voice setting guidelines for identifying the disease that we now know as leprosy. The concern with setting up a quarantine for lepers was most probably aimed at ensuring that the disease would be contained and have little opportunity for spreading among the community. However, the requirement for anyone who has the leprous disease to wear torn clothes, to let the hair on their heads be disheveled, and to cry out ‘Unclean!’ whenever anyone else came near (cf Lv 13:45) ultimately condemned those who suffered with this disease to living lives of loneliness, separated from family and friends, thus adding to their sense of rejection.
Saint John Paul was acutely aware of the isolation that illness imposes, but he was also determined to do everything he could to ensure that those who suffer never lost their voices. Instead, he invited the entire world to pray for those who are sick. The Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes was chosen for this special commemoration because many pilgrims who have visited the Shrine of Our Lady at Lourdes have reportedly been healed of their infirmities through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.
It takes great courage and faith to resist the temptation to feel isolated, especially when we are sick. What courage it must have taken for the leper mentioned in today’s gospel to approach Jesus! Against all established regulations, he came to Jesus ... knelt before him and begged: If you choose, you can make me clean (Mk 1:40). When we are sick, we barely have the energy to get out of bed, yet the example of this leper shows us that we can all call out for help. It doesn’t take too many words, but it does take faith. Like the disciples in last week’s gospel, all we have to do is ask and Jesus will always respond: I do choose. Be made clean! (Mk 1:41).
Jesus knew the established rules about lepers keeping to themselves, and he also knew that if a leper were ever to be cleansed, he was required to show himself to the priests and to make an offering as a sign of thanksgiving for the healing that had been received (cf Mk 1:44; Lv 14:1-32). This is the reason why he asked the man to say nothing to anyone, but rather to fulfill the law. However, the man went out and began to proclaim it freely (Mk 1:45) because he was overjoyed.
Today, let us remember those of our families and friends who are sick. Let us pray for them in hopes that they too will be cured of their illnesses. Like the leper who was cured, may they one day also joyfully spread the news that God has worked wonders.
I do choose. Be made clean!
Saint John Paul II was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease as early as 1991. Although this diagnosis was not revealed publicly until much later, it is significant that on May 13, 1992, His Holiness instituted the World Day of the Sick which has been celebrated annually since that time on February 11, the Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Perhaps it is not by coincidence that the scripture passages assigned for this Sunday’s Mass speak of those who are sick and suffering. In the first reading, taken from the Book of Leviticus, we hear the Lord’s voice setting guidelines for identifying the disease that we now know as leprosy. The concern with setting up a quarantine for lepers was most probably aimed at ensuring that the disease would be contained and have little opportunity for spreading among the community. However, the requirement for anyone who has the leprous disease to wear torn clothes, to let the hair on their heads be disheveled, and to cry out ‘Unclean!’ whenever anyone else came near (cf Lv 13:45) ultimately condemned those who suffered with this disease to living lives of loneliness, separated from family and friends, thus adding to their sense of rejection.
Saint John Paul was acutely aware of the isolation that illness imposes, but he was also determined to do everything he could to ensure that those who suffer never lost their voices. Instead, he invited the entire world to pray for those who are sick. The Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes was chosen for this special commemoration because many pilgrims who have visited the Shrine of Our Lady at Lourdes have reportedly been healed of their infirmities through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.
It takes great courage and faith to resist the temptation to feel isolated, especially when we are sick. What courage it must have taken for the leper mentioned in today’s gospel to approach Jesus! Against all established regulations, he came to Jesus ... knelt before him and begged: If you choose, you can make me clean (Mk 1:40). When we are sick, we barely have the energy to get out of bed, yet the example of this leper shows us that we can all call out for help. It doesn’t take too many words, but it does take faith. Like the disciples in last week’s gospel, all we have to do is ask and Jesus will always respond: I do choose. Be made clean! (Mk 1:41).
Jesus knew the established rules about lepers keeping to themselves, and he also knew that if a leper were ever to be cleansed, he was required to show himself to the priests and to make an offering as a sign of thanksgiving for the healing that had been received (cf Mk 1:44; Lv 14:1-32). This is the reason why he asked the man to say nothing to anyone, but rather to fulfill the law. However, the man went out and began to proclaim it freely (Mk 1:45) because he was overjoyed.
Today, let us remember those of our families and friends who are sick. Let us pray for them in hopes that they too will be cured of their illnesses. Like the leper who was cured, may they one day also joyfully spread the news that God has worked wonders.
Je le veux. Soit purifié!
Saint Jean Paul II a été diagnostiqué avec la maladie de Parkinson dès 1991. Bien que ce diagnostic n'ait été révélé publiquement que beaucoup plus tard, il est significatif que le 13 mai 1992, Sa Sainteté a institué la Journée Mondiale du Malade qui a été célébré chaque année depuis le 11 février, jour de la fête de Notre-Dame de Lourdes.
Ce n'est peut-être pas par hasard que les passages des Saintes Écritures propres à la messe parlent de ceux qui sont malades et qui souffrent. Dans la première lecture, tirée du Livre du Lévitique, nous entendons la voix du Seigneur qui établit des lignes directrices pour identifier la maladie que nous connaissons maintenant comme la lèpre. Le souci de mettre en place une quarantaine pour les lépreux avait très probablement pour but de faire en sorte que la maladie soit contenue et ait peu de chances de se propager dans la communauté. Cependant, l'exigence pour quiconque a la lèpre de porter des vêtements déchirés, de laisser les cheveux en désordre, et de crier «impur» quand quelqu'un d'autre s'approchait (cf Lv 13,45) condamnait finalement ceux qui souffrent de cette maladie à vivre des vies de solitude, séparées de la famille et des amis, ce qui ajoute à leur sentiment de rejet.
Saint Jean Paul II était parfaitement conscient de l'isolement que la maladie apporte, mais il était également déterminé à faire tout ce qu'il pouvait pour que ceux qui souffrent ne perdent jamais la voix. Au lieu de cela, il a invité le monde entier à prier pour ceux qui sont malades. Le jour de la Fête de Notre Dame de Lourdes a été choisi pour cette commémoration spéciale, car de nombreux pèlerins qui ont visité le Sanctuaire de Notre-Dame de Lourdes auraient été guéris de leurs infirmités par l'intercession de la Sainte Vierge.
Il faut beaucoup de courage et de foi pour résister à la tentation de se sentir isolé, surtout quand on est malade. Quel courage cela a dû prendre pour que le lépreux mentionné dans l'Évangile d'aujourd'hui approche à Jésus! Contre toutes les règles établies, il est venu auprès de Jésus ... il s'est agenouillé devant lui et a supplié: Si tu le veux, tu peux me purifier (Mc 1,40). Quand nous sommes malades, nous avons à peine l'énergie de sortir du lit, pourtant l'exemple de ce lépreux nous démontre que nous pouvons tous demander de l'aide. Cela ne prend pas trop de paroles, mais cela prend de la foi. Comme les disciples dans l'évangile de la semaine dernière, tout ce que nous avons à faire est de demander et Jésus répondra toujours: Je le veux. Sois purifié! (Mc 1,41).
Jésus connaissait les règles établies qui s’appliquaient aux lépreux, et il savait aussi que si un lépreux devait être purifié, il devait se montrer aux prêtres et faire une offrande en signe de reconnaissance pour la guérison qui avait été effectuée (cf Mc 1,44; Lv 14: 1-32). C'est la raison pour laquelle il a demandé à l'homme de ne rien dire à qui que ce soit, mais plutôt de respecter la loi. Cependant, l'homme se mit à proclamer et à répandre la nouvelle (Mc 1,45) parce qu'il était rempli de joie.
Aujourd'hui, souvenons-nous de ceux de nos familles et de nos amis qui sont malades. Prions pour eux dans l'espoir qu'ils seront eux aussi guéris de leurs maladies. Comme le lépreux qui a été guéri, puissent-ils un jour aussi joyeusement répandre la nouvelle que Dieu a fait des merveilles.
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