"Healing - restoration of body, mind, and soul."
"Healing - restoration of body, mind, and soul."
Do you know Vinicio Riva? Vinicio is from the Northern Italian town of Vincenza, who suffers from a non-infectious genetic disease, neurofibromatosis type 1. It has left him completely covered from head to toe with growths, swellings, and itchy sores. He has been told not to sit by people on a bus. He can only do the most menial work. Vinicio traveled with his family members and others from North Italy to Vatican City. They secured tickets to the Papal audience. When the Swiss Guard saw him, they ushered him to the front row. Pope Francis came in, gave his talk, then went down to greet some of the infirm. He saw Vinicio and walked over to him. Pope then kissed him. Vinicio, the outcast, has now become a celebrity. More than that, his dignity/value has been affirmed by the Pope himself.
When we think about healing, we think of a great deal of physical aspects. Of course, it is important. But healing is more than a physical aspect. Whenever Jesus healed the people, he forgave their sins and affirmed their faith. We are more than our sickness/disabilities. The gospel passage for Sunday (Mark 1:40-45) is a continuation from last Sunday: Jesus cleanses a Leper. A Leper is supposed to distance from others. Here Jesus stretches out his hand and touches him. Jesus not only cleanses him but restores his dignity. He continues to provide us with his healing presence through the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and our companionship.
February 11, the Feast of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick. Every year on a Sunday closer to this date in our cluster we pray for the sick and health care professionals. This year’s theme for the World Day of Sick is “It is not good that man should be alone” (cf. Gen 2:18). Pope Francis says in his message for the World Day of the Sick, “From the beginning, God, who is love, created us for communion and endowed us with an innate capacity to enter into a relationship with others… In this regard, I think of all those who found themselves terribly alone during the COVID-19 pandemic: the patients who could not receive visitors, but also the many nurses, physicians, and support personnel overwhelmed by work and enclosed in isolation wards. Naturally, we cannot fail to recall all those persons who had to face the hour of their death alone, assisted by healthcare personnel, but far from their own families.”
Pope Francis reminds us that we are called to be with others in times of sickness, and solitude, and our support for the health care workers. Jesus touches them through us. Pope says, “The first form of care needed in any illness is compassionate and loving closeness.”
Lent – a season of an exodus from slavery to freedom
The message of Pope Francis this Lent is centered on the book of Exodus – “Through the desert God leads us to freedom.” He starts the message with Exodus 20:2, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Pope reminds us that Exodus's story is not only a journey of bondage to emancipation but also of revelation and spiritual freedom.
Ash Wednesday readings reflect the Pope's message on the journey to spiritual freedom. The first reading is from the book of prophet Joel (2:12-18) insisting that we should experience a complete conversion of heart and not simply sorrow for our sins. In the book of Leviticus 16:30, we read “For on this day atonement is made for you to make you clean; of all your sins you will be cleansed before the LORD.” Saint Paul, in the second reading, says, that Christ took on our humanity and became the victim in a sacrificial act so “we might become the righteousness of God in him.” The sacrifice of Christ has infinite value and enables us to be reconciled to God.
Today’s Gospel instructs us to embrace the true spirit of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount which begins in chapter 5 and ends in chapter 7. In this Gospel reading, the sermon continues with a warning against doing good to be seen and gives three examples, almsgiving (Mt 6:2–4), prayer (Mt 6:5–15), and fasting (Mt 6:16–18).
What can I do this Lent? A simple suggestion: 1. Take a few minutes for daily prayer 2. Find time to attend Mass every Sunday. And if you go every Sunday, try to find time for weekday Mass at least once or twice. And/or go for the Stations of the Cross, Lenten book study on “Beautiful Eucharist” 3. Pray for one or two of your friends/families each week and invite them for the weekend Mass and/or go for the Stations of the Cross, Lenten book study on “Beautiful Eucharist.”
During Lent, I will be posting a daily message on Facebook and YouTube based on daily reading.