Restoring Man to Wholeness

Celebrating the 26th annual Wold Day of the Sick on February 11 is a call to being restored to the purity and wholeness of life. Jesus’ mission was to give humanity life to the full: “I have come that they may have life, life in all its fullness” (Jn 10:10). Thus He responds with deep care and healing graces to every sickness and need, be this physical, social, moral or spiritual.

Jesus changed the perspective of the Old Law whereby persons afflicted with leprosy were considered unclean or sinful, and therefore excluded from society. In the Gospel (Mk 1:40-45), a leper approaches the Lord to benefit from His healing touch, and Jesus, touching the man, immediately healed him. The Lord was “moved with pity” upon seeing the leper’s great faith and hearing his prayer of humble submission and trust: “If you wish, you can make me clean” (Mk 1:40). Jesus also teaches us to be compassionate towards the sick. This is part of our missionary responsibility for the care of the sick, and the reason for the World Day of the Sick, instituted by St. John Paul II on 13 May 1992 and first celebrated at Lourdes, France on 11 February 1993.

In serving and loving our sick brethren, we also serve and love the Lord in them, just as He does show them His own love. This day is a “special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church, and of reminding us to see in our sick brother and sister the face of Christ who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of humankind” (St. John Paul II, 1992).

Taking leprosy as a symbol of sin, let us follow the leper’s posture in approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation with contrite hearts and begging for God’s healing and cleansing power of forgiveness through the ministry of the priest. As Lent approaches, let us make a decision to reject sin in our lives. We entrust our desire to Our Lady of Lourdes, who introduced herself to St. Bernadette as The Immaculate Conception!