March 17, 2015 Tuesday: Wk 6, Divine Mercy - I was sick and you visited me

What’s your first reaction when you are told that you need to visit a sick person? A young priest shared his reaction in his memoir:
“I remember that at the beginning [of my priestly ministry] the sick intimidated me. I needed a lot of courage to stand before a sick person and enter, so to speak, into his physical and spiritual pain, not to betray discomfort, and to show at least a little loving compassion.”
The young priest who shared his reaction was Fr. Karol Wojtyla who later became St. Pope John Paul II.

Why is it so hard for us to see suffering? Fr. Karol Wojtyla reflected, “Only later did I begin to grasp the profound meaning of the mystery of human suffering. In the weakness of the sick, I saw emerging...a new strength--the strength of mercy. In a sense, the sick provoke mercy...By their illness and suffering they call forth acts of mercy and create the possibility for accomplishing them.”

When we encounter a suffering person, we are called out of ourselves, to forget ourselves, to leave the comfort of our egos, to think of another and suffer with him. Something extraordinary happens when we decide to take the invitation to be with the suffering person. For instance, we see a look of sorrow on a loved one’s face and suddenly forget our own problems and go to that person. We hear of a tragedy on the news, and our own petty concerns dissolve into compassion for the victims.

For those who are suffering, the old school advice from nuns still apply--”offer your suffering by joining it to the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.” When Jesus said, “This is my body and my blood given up for you,” his gift of himself saved us. Therefore, the grace from the suffering offered up has power to save lives! Would you say yes to Jesus and Blessed Mother if they ask you, “Would you endure suffering for your loved ones?” We should not forget what the old nuns used to say to us, “Don’t waste your suffering.”