5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
It was a year ago that I was in the hospital for the first time in my life. The minor surgery meant that I had to stay overnight. When it came time for the dressing change the next day, I thought that I was going to die from the intense pain. Of course my brief experience of pain was nothing compared to the chronic conditions or acute illnesses that so many people suffer each and every day. When you think of all the people in hospitals or nursing homes, and the countless others around the world who endure without any medical care, the enormity of suffering seems overwhelming. It is no wonder then that in Jesus' time once the crowds had heard that he cured Simon's mother-in-law, they raced to bring to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. If someone could alleviate the pain, cure the sick, and cast out demons this was definitely an opportunity of which to take advantage. While modern medicine may help us with our physical illness and psychological pain, there is still a spiritual dimension to sickness that we should not ignore. Sickness separates us. It makes us question our faith. Illness strikes at our heart as well as our body. That is why the church offers the sacrament of the anointing of the sick for any who are ill. When we are sick, we are also alone. We need the support of the community of faith. And we need their prayers. When a loved one is ill-or if you are sick yourself-don't hesitate to request the sacrament of anointing. If your illness confines you for a longer time, ask to receive Communion regularly to nurture you spiritually even as you seek to be strengthened physically. People sought out Jesus in this weekend's Gospel. When we or a loved one is ill, we can seek him out today.