Most of us have experienced being
sick. We all know that sickness is a condition that affects our whole being. It
sometimes accompanied by pain and anxiety which would eventually weaken our body.
We are lucky that we have our family to take good care of us in all our needs.
Every time we experienced the goodness of our family and friends, we also feel
the presence of Christ. For an instance, allow me to share my experience of helping my sick mother who was
diagnosed with Pneumonia last year. At first she was hesitant going to the
hospital, thinking everything seems to be ok. Then days passed by,
she just informed us that her situation wasn't good. At that moment, we
immediately rushed her to the hospital and found out that she had a lung
infection caused by bacteria. This experienced somewhat surprise our family. At
the back of my mind, my mother was still in good hands because of our loving
presence during her difficulties. This led me to think and ask “how about those people with no family helping
during their times of sickness and loneliness? This motivates me to affirm the importance of the healing ministry of the Church and our responsibility
as Children of God.
The Catholic Church is extending her ministry towards pastoral care of the sick through the sacraments of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick and Corporal Works of Mercy. The Church primary task is to help the sick especially
those who are neglected by their family. These are the people with severe
illness in the hospitals, those who are blind, and with physical disabilities.
These are the people who really need holistic healing and life-love encounter
with us.
With the different realities of
today,
What help can we concretely give to
our sick brothers and sisters?
How can we extend Christ’s healing
hands to them?
It is part of our responsibility as
“One Body of Christ” to help and heal all the members connected to us. For if
one part of the body is detach, then the rest of the body would be affected. In
the same way, we are responsible to our sick brothers and sisters, since they belong
to Christ’s body. If one member is sick then the rest will be affected too. We
need to be hand in hand in doing Jesus’ mission. He always inspires us to
become a concrete manifestation of Hope and Love to all. It is only by offering
our total self to the needy that we can concretely be like Christ. So, it is a
constant invitation for us to do the same.. to go beyond our comfort zone and
be Christ’s voice to the peripheries.
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