Companions on the Journey

The theme offered by  Vie Liturgique magazine for the fourth Sunday of Lent is Standing before the cross, standing before love . We sometimes forget that the cross and love are intimately linked in salvation history. Because Jesus freely agreed to go to the cross, we receive Salvation. Why did he accept? He loved God with a love which surpasses all love. Since we are saved, there are people who say that it is useless to focus on the cross. Why discuss suffering when Christ is risen? There are others whose primary focus is on the suffering Christ, who experience our time on earth as a long purgatory before eternal life. Yet, both the cross and the resurrection nourish our faith. It is very simple - for Christ to be raised from the dead, he had to agree to go through a path of suffering. If we want to erase this suffering, we take away all the power of love that his resurrection has brought forth in our world. We have all experienced hardships that have made us grow, which have

Pope John Paul II instituted the World Day of the Sick in 1992. Since then, it has been celebrated every year on February 11. This day reminds us that sick people need to be supported, encouraged and visited. Sickness can often isolate people, either because they do not want to disturb others or be a burden on them – when, in fact, this is precisely the moment when they most need accompaniment. Jesus healed many people who dared to come to him despite their illness. What they heard about him gave them the courage to approach Jesus in hope that the suffering would be more bearable. Jesus was always filled with compassion. He freed them from their suffering.         Illness is still present today. Isolation is still the lot of many persons who are suffering. We have very busy lives - too busy to just take the time. The time to approach the sick person and listen to him,  comfort him,  offer a loving and compassionate presence.            For the sick person, time can stret