“Take care of your health, that it may serve you to serve God.”
— St. Francis De Sales
Last Saturday at 3:40 AM, I received a call from to visit a 91 year-old patient dying at West Hills Rehabilitation Center. I was discombobulated as I answered this middle-of-the-night summons, especially since the Pre-Cana was just hours away at 8:00 AM. Nonetheless, with my chaplaincy school training, I awakened and went to anoint this child of God.
Upon entering the room, I was greeted by three generations of family members who had been keeping vigil since 2:00 AM with love, support and prayer. In ministry, your feelings may not always want to respond to a call initially, but when you arrive you receive blessings beyond all measure and any minor inconvenience is soon forgotten. This moment of sacrifice and grace seemed to be a catalyst for the rest of the day, as 77 couples spent morning through evening with us in preparation for marriage.
I mentioned to the couples that it was an “All-Star Weekend”: the NHL All-Star Game was in Ottawa (where there was snow and ice), the NFL Prow Bowl was in Honolulu, HI (where there was sunshine and beaches), and an all-star line up of speakers at our Pre-Cana ready to share with the couples on that very important day. I expressed that I trusted that we also had all-star couples attending who would go forth to God’s altar to commit themselves to one another in the holy covenant of marriage. As the couples are sent two-by-two as Christ’s disciples, they witness to His presence, grace and love in their lives and share it abundantly with others. One Methodist man at the completion of the day, asked, “What do I have to do to be a Catholic?” The next two Pre-Cana classes at our parish will be on April 28 and August 25.
A very special word of deep appreciation is extended to Rudy Bolea for hosting us at Junior’s Restaurant in Coraopolis, especially considering the large number of couples we had due to our not wanting to turn anyone away. The breakfast and lunch which Rudy served were second to none and enjoyed by all.
As Super Bowl XLVI is played today in Indianapolis between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, all eyes will be on this annual Vince Lombardi trophy event. Also in the news has been the story of the Indianapolis Colts and the loss of their all-star quarterback, Peyton Manning, out for the year with a neck injury. This stellar team went from top to bottom in one season. The losses mounted as they lost their games, their coach, and staff members, and the fans became disillusioned. Ironically, in all their pain and misery the Super Bowl comes to their city! The “good news,” however, is that with the future of this legendary quarterback Peyton Manning in the wings, his little brother Eli, the quarterback of the New York Giants, will perform on his field as Peyton watches from the press box!
Nevertheless, Eli impressed everyone with his positive and loving attitude as he said, “I pray for a healing for my brother as football is his life. I’ve been watching him play football since seventh grade. He’s always been my hero and despite this season-ending neck injury, I trust that he will be back.”
I cannot but think of the story of Job, a man who is beset with monumental misery, whom we read about on this Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. One of the richest men in the East, he had many blessings: 7 sons, 3 daughters, 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 1,000 cattle, 500 donkeys, large numbers of servants and vast wealth. The Lord said, “There is no one as faithful and good as Job is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil” (Job 1: 8). But Job’s life bottomed out. In a short time, all of his material blessings were wiped out by lightning, fire, storms and other natural disasters. Job himself said, “My years are passing, I can hardly breathe; there is nothing left for me but the grave” (Job 17:1). But maintaining a spirit of faith, said famously, “I was born with nothing and I die with nothing. The Lord gave and now He has taken away. May His named be praised” (Job 1:21).
In life’s greatest defeats and blows we learn to trust that God will see us through. It is in the darkest hours of our journey that we ever seek the light. In the darkness of suffering — healing, in the darkness of misery — hopefulness and in the darkness of loss — victory. Do we curse or bless God in the hard times of life?
In Mark’s Gospel (1: 29-39), Jesus heals those who are ill with various diseases. In that time maladies were considered demon-leprosy, demon-blindness, demon-heart disease and demon-spirit possession. The healing ministry and mission of Jesus is to bring not only the individual to wholeness, but also beyond that, the community to a livelier faith. Diseases obeyed Jesus, demons obeyed Jesus and death obeys Jesus. Jesus is the Teacher, the Healer and the Savior of our lives!
Gracious Lord Almighty, Jesus Christ, let your sufferings aid us, and defend us from all pain and grief, all peril and misery, all uncleanness of heart, all sin, all scandal, and all infamy, from evil diseases of soul and body, from sudden and unforeseen death, and from all persecution of our foes, visible and invisible.
For we know that in what day or hour we call to mind your Passion, we are safe. Therefore, relying on infinite tenderness, we beseech You, O most loving Savior, by Your most gracious and sacred sufferings, to protect us with gracious aid, and in continual tenderness, to preserve us from all evil. Amen.
— Pope Innocent III (1160-1216)
