Isolation from others has been a feature of nearly every human life this past year. We have missed so many important gatherings with family and friends, work colleagues and friends at school or elsewhere. No man is an island. We are made for each other and the bonds of communion run very deep within the human family.
In Jesus' time, lepers were the ones who had to "self isolate" and stay away from the community in case they brought their disease to others. There was very little in the way of help for them both medically or materially. They were on their own. The leper in today's gospel has been called to faith. He kneels down before Jesus and says that he knows Jesus can heal him. Jesus shows his deep desire to bring healing to this sick and wounded human being. "Of course I want to, be cured." In our sufferings and tribulations, there is no need to "self isolate" from the Lord. He is there for us. All we need to do is come before him. He is waiting for us. The Church today remembers at Mass and in its prayer the victims of human trafficking on the memorial of St Josephine Bakhita who was canonised 1st October 2000 by Pope John Paul and made Parton saint of survivors of human trafficking. Her story began in Darfur, modern day Sudan where she was kidnapped as a young child and subject to the cruelty of slavery for many years of her life. By the grace of God an Italian family rescued her from slavery and took her to Italy where she came to be baptised and a member of the Church. She went on to become a religious sister dedicating her life God. She died on this day 1947, aged 77. We ask St Josephine's prayers for an end to trafficking. You may find the link below of interest as we pray for an end to this awful problem in our world: https://www.renateevents.net/an-economy-without-human-trafficking The Scripture readings this weekend help us tackle the reality of suffering and the presence of God in the midst of it. There is no doubt that the Pandemic has brought suffering and hardship to many people. Very few people have been left unscathed by the challenges that this time brings. Questions continue to be asked: Why do people suffer? Where is God?
In the first reading we meet Job, the holy man of God who is inflicted with suffering and tries to make sense of it all. God seems to have abandoned him and yet, clinging to God is his hope. The healing of Simon's mother in law by Jesus in the gospel, and the account of the crowds of people who come after sunset for healing, show the compassion and tenderness of God's beloved Son. He truly enters into the darkness of peoples lives and does not abandon them. His own acceptance of the darkest hour of suffering on the cross brings a healing and peace that will transcend all human suffering. How keen are we to crowd round the door where the Lord is present in our lives? Are we eager to bring others to him with their questions, pain and sufferings at this time? |
Parish News & Events Archive
March 2024
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