6th Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
“The Face of Christ in Suffering”
“Lord and Father, almighty and eternal God, by your blessing you give us strength and support in our frailty: turn with kindness toward this your servant. Free her from all illness and restore her to health, so that in the sure knowledge of your goodness she will gratefully bless your holy name.”
I have anointed thousands of people in my ordained ministry; some knew it and requested it, some did not. When I was Chaplain in the VA Hospitals, I would frequently go around the units and ask the Catholic patients if they wanted to be anointed. Sometimes I would hear questions like: “Oh Father, do you think that its that bad that I need to be?” or “Father, I’m not dying, I’m just going to have surgery!” Some spouses and family members would make comments like: “Father, he should, he is suffering so much!”
Suffering wears a thousand faces, and every face is Christ’s. When we suffer sickness, loss, violence, or the harsher effects of aging in ourselves or in those we love, we cannot really understand the reasons, but we can choose the rock on which we will stand. We are members of the Body of Christ. Christ our Head is present in our suffering – never doubt that.
One of the deepest causes of suffering experienced by those whom sickness or aging confines to the narrow world of home, hospital, or geriatric facility is a sense of isolation. We may feel misunderstood, rejected, abandoned by the healthy world of which we were an active part, even by those who love us, even by God. We feel that there is something wrong with us. We feel no longer useful. We cause other people discomfort and inconvenience. We may know how we “ought” to pray in times of suffering, but we cannot seem to do it. We cannot even go to church.
In his autobiography, The Gift of Peace, the late Cardinal Joseph Bernadine once said about praying in sickness: “Pray while you’re well, because if you wait until you’re sick you might not be able to do it.” At the time Cardinal Bernadine was suffering with the effects of Pancreatic Cancer and was not long for the world. Our experience of suffering sets us apart. We find ourselves unable to take an interest in the world of everyday concerns about which others are busy. We may even find ourselves ill at ease with our ordinary companions in faith and worship. Our usual forms of prayer no longer seem to suffice. We have questions that are difficult to answer, such as: Why me? Praying and receiving the church’s Sacraments is very important when we are ill and suffering from the effects of sickness and aging.
Many people still call and request “the Last Rites” for their loved ones. Many Catholics, having been brought up in the “old school” still refer to the Sacrament of the Sick as “Extreme Unction” or the “Last Rites.” But it was the Second Vatican Council that restored this Sacrament to its original purpose: a prayer and sacrament of anointing.
Healing, as we just heard about in the Gospel of St. Mark, was a part of Jesus’ ministry and mission, and that of the disciples. When Jesus sent his disciples to help him in his mission, St. Mark tells us they preached that people should turn away from their sins, they cast out demons and anointed many with oil and healed them. Even when physical healing and restoration to our former lives is not possible, there is a tremendous unique blessing and grace that comes with the Sacrament of the Sick (Anointing).
I know that prayer works! Not from just my own perspective and experience but through others. In early January, a wonderful Nurse friend of mine from the Tampa VA Hospital had a stroke at work. Melissa is only 39. Her husband TJ texted me to tell me of the stroke and asked for my prayers. At the time, on January 12, they were not sure Melissa would even recover. On Thursday, Melissa went home from the Rehab Center to continue her physical therapy and speech therapy. TJ continues to send texts with updates and thank me for prayers.
The Sacrament of the Sick and Anointing are awesome experiences of God’s grace as we battle the effects of sickness, aging and terminal illness. I have and will continue to make myself available to celebrate the Sacrament with anyone requesting it. I would like to offer the Anointing of the Sick after Mass for anyone who feels the need to receive it.
We do not have to be terminally ill; we don’t have to be old; we don’t have to be suffering from any physical illness. The Sacrament is available for anyone who feels they need it. No questions asked.
May God bless us and all who live in simplicity of heart.