Gospel Mk 6:53-56

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea,
Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret
and tied up there.
As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.
They scurried about the surrounding country
and began to bring in the sick on mats
to wherever they heard he was.
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered,
they laid the sick in the marketplaces
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak;
and as many as touched it were healed.

Even in today’s world where the medical field has advanced by leaps and bounds from what is was…we are still  dealing with disease and illness at alarming rates.People are suffering throughout the world. The lucky ones have access to medical care and nursing staffs at hospitals; but most people who suffer; do so at home, oftentimes feeling abandoned and alone. This is a very sobering fact. As faithful Catholics we have an obligation to care for these people…to visit the sick.… Maybe not on a daily basis…but we have an obligation to bring the message of Christ to these suffering people…to bring His hope and His light into their dark moments of pain.To let them know that He has not abandoned them…

I know this is difficult and finding the courage will be a task in and of itself…but we have to ask God for His grace so that we may bring His mercy and His faith to those who are in need of His healing.  Since most of these sick are unable to travel, we must do the traveling for them…find an adoration chapel near you…or just an open Catholic church…go in and find Our Eucharistic Lord in the tabernacle and  open your heart to whatever He desires of you…and then…take Jesus with you when you go (spiritually of course!) …He will fill you with what you need to share His love for them.

I am not saying everything will run smoothly, and you may  get yelled at by those who have become angry or bitter…those people really need our prayers the most…and maybe that is all you can do is pray for the sick …everyday...and remember, just because  we may not see any fruits of  these prayers…in the end….your faith -in -action could alleviate their suffering and pain. And it  just may be what helps guide them home to the Lord. Awesome!