Theme: “Come to me all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Scripture readings: 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30; Ps. 84: 3,4, 5 & 10, 11; Mark 7: 1-13
The church celebrates today the World day of the sick on the occasion of Our Lady of Lourdes. It was initiated by St. John Paul II in 1992 to encourage people to pray for the sick and those who take care of them. St. John Paul II was diagnosed with the Parkinson disease in 1991. It is said his own illness prompted him to start the world day of the sick. It is celebrated on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Our Lady appeared to a 14 years old Bernadette Soubirous from Lourdes, France. She appeared to Bernadette 18 times from 11 Feb to 16 July 1858. Her message was to pray for sinner, do the penance, ask the priests to build the chapel. Our Lady revealed to Bernadette that she was the Immaculate Conception. St. John Paul II visited Lourdes three times in his life. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI visited once on the occasion of 150th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes. Pope Benedict XVI resigned from the Pontificate on the same day due to his ill health. The popes of the recent times have recognized the importance of the apparition of Our Lady in Lourdes. Therefore, they invite us to celebrate the World Day of the Sick. Every year Pope gives us message on this day. Let us briefly look at the message of Pope Francis.
Pope Francis in his message (2020) on the world sick day focuses on the theme based on “Come to me all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. (Mt. 11:28) Jesus’ mercy is for all. Jesus himself went through suffering therefore he is able to comfort others. All of us need to aware that we lack warmth and personalized approach today in moments of sufferings. What is needed is not just curing but also caring. We often fail to recognize that the family also suffers with the person who is sick; therefore, the family should also be included in our care of the sick. Pope says that those who are sick, attract the eyes and heart of Jesus. The church should therefore become the inn of good Samaritan. (Lk 10:34) Where every sick person finds closeness, acceptance and relief. While talking to the people who are in involved in the health care, he appreciates their work but warns that the noun “person” should prevail over adjective “sick”. We must always say ‘yes’ to human life and person. Pope concludes by thanking all those who are working in the health care. He also invites politicians to avoid social justice in cases of those who live in poor countries; they do not have proper health care facilities.
Every world day of the sick is an open invitation to all of us to pray for the sick but also get involved in relieving the pain of those who are suffering. Let us join with the universal church to pray for all the sick, the nurses and doctors, all those who are working for betterment in the health sector. May God bless them abundantly.
Fr. Alex D’Mello
