On the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, a reflection on the message of Pope Francis to the people and the sick in the field of pastoral care in the Diocese of Rome.
Monsignor Joji Vadakara, Vatican City
Following the World Day of the Sick established by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1992, the Catholic Church sets aside a day each year to remember and pray for people who work in the field of health care and those who are ill. Since 1993, this day has been observed every year on the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Church observed the 31st World Day of the Sick in 2023. In this regard, Pope Francis has granted a meeting at the Vatican on Thursday, February 9, for people working in pastoral care in the field of emergency services under the Diocese of Rome and for a few sick people. The Pope’s reflection for this year’s World Day of the Sick was based on the words “serve him”. Inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan described by Jesus in verses 25 to 37 of the Gospel of Saint Luke, the Pope asked the people who provide pastoral services in the field of health care to be close to people who are on the path of suffering and to provide them with love and care.
Good Samaritan
Jesus tells the parable of the Samaritan when the lawyer raises the question of who is my neighbor. A man going from Jerusalem to Jericho. The robbers strip him of his clothes, beat him up and leave him on the road. Then a priest and a Levite pass through it, but they both go without ministering to him or helping him. In the words of the Pope, “they both make him neglected by their indifference and indifference”. But a Samaritan who happened to be there, having compassion on him, approached him, poured oil and wine on him, bound up his wounds, got off his donkey and took him to an inn and nursed him. Moreover, the Gospel says, the next day he gave two denarii into the hand of the innkeeper, and said; Take care of him. If it costs anything more, I will give it to you when I come back” (Luke 10:35).
Wounded men
In connection with this parable, Pope Francis talks about something common in the lives of these two men, the Samaritan and the man who fell by the wayside. They are both wounded men. The man lying on the road was wounded in the body by the blows of the robbers. But the Samaritan, because he is not from that region, the Samaritan, as a foreigner, is unwelcomed by the people, and wounded inwardly by their scornful gaze. This is where a beautiful principle comes out. It is easy for the wounded to understand the wounded. The Samaritan wounded in heart can stand by and comfort the man who is wounded in his body and is in the pain of his wounds and the neglect of the passers-by. A history of solidarity and positive hopes for the future begins among men who can understand the pain of a wound; Breaking down the walls of isolation.
Healthcare and Spirituality
The parable of the Samaritan provides a very important lesson for people who work in pastoral care in health care. In the face of the sufferings of many people who are suffering in body and mind, this parable stands as a motivation to throw away the attitude of selfishness, to be close to the suffering people and to comfort them through their proximity and services. Those who serve in the pastoral field must be able to look up into the faces of suffering men without looking at themselves, kneel before their lives that have often fallen under the rigors of suffering, sit with them, hold their hands, and be a presence of consolation.
Through the parable of the Samaritan, the Pope reminds us that there are three attitudes to learn. They are to be with those who are suffering, to be a voice for the silenced cries of suffering, and to be the leaven of mercy in society.
A comforting presence in suffering
For human beings in pain, being close to patients is one of the most important things here. Those who serve in the pastoral field should be able to listen to them in their pains and sufferings, to listen patiently to what they have to say. Our presence is meaningful when they can be a presence of love and an aura of acceptance. But for this to be possible, the attitude of the Samaritan must be acquired. We can never be good Samaritans if we ignore and pretend we don’t see a brother in pain. This is where our attitude should differ. When we give priority and importance to suffering people over me, over my things, we can reach out to them and console them. The more we can open our eyes to those in pain, and the more we try to connect with them, the more sensitive we are to this. Thus we can understand the true meaning of life, love, more by traveling together.
Be the voice of the voiceless
There are many people around us who are isolated due to illness and many other reasons. Without a financial or psychological support, they are likely to fall into despair in life and, why, to the point of giving up their faith. Especially for chronically ill patients who suffer from constant pain all over the body. For them, going alone is unacceptable. The Pope says that our cities are deserts without humanity, deaf to mercy. We should be able to enter such cities with a challenge. We must be able to listen to the cries of suffering men and make sure that their cries are heard by others. Let us not leave them to be locked in a room in their homes or hospitals. The history of isolated men should not become one news among many other news. For that we should be able to give them a place in our hearts. We can improve their lives by our personal actions and intervention.
Be a leaven of compassion in society
Thirdly, in relation to the parable of the Samaritan, the Pope spoke about the need to act in harmony with others. Our actions must be to start a network of mercy. We must be able to move forward by sharing a style of mutuality and unconditional sharing. Because we are all capable of helping in some way, we need help at some point. Sometimes it’s just a smile. But giving it is important. Because that’s how we start a network, a chain. It is not a bond but a chain of freedom, of hands clasped together, of hands laboring together, of hearts joined together in prayer and mercy. It is like a net that does not break no matter how big the waves are, but widens to contain everyone. This net of love can bring to shore those who might be drowning in life’s downfalls and difficulties. Let us not forget that those who take the initiative to help the suffering here set an example for others to engage in similar activities. It is important to work together for the good of all. It is important to work together as a body, as St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in the twelfth chapter of the First Epistle, verses twelve to twenty-seven. There the pains and sufferings of one will become the pains and sufferings of all, and the service and contribution of one will be accepted as a blessing by all.
A tough job
The Pope reminded us that being with those in pain and serving them is not an easy task. Therefore, we should not lose heart. Look into the eyes of brothers who are suffering when they face difficulties, obstacles and misunderstandings in the field of service. Then remember the words of the good Samaritan to the innkeeper “serve him”. We see Jesus in them. Jesus will never forsake us, coming to share our weaknesses until death and then lifting us up after death. In Jesus we must find the strength to not give up even in the most trying moments of life.
We are not alone in our pain
At the end of his homily, Pope Francis shared something very beautiful with the patients. Suffering must be lived in the light of faith. It is important that we should always remember in our brokenness that we strive to be convinced that we are passing through the paths of suffering close to God’s heart. The Pope called on the sick to pray that the spirit of being close to suffering men would grow, that there would be more concrete acts of mercy, that the cries of pain would not go unheard.
Conclusion
Through the parable of the Samaritan, Pope Francis’ messages to those working in the pastoral field related to health care give us some thoughts that can be adopted by any society, in any workplace. How many wounded people are in our congregations, public societies, and families, without being noticed by anyone, on the sidelines of suffering! Let us open our eyes and ask ourselves why we cannot be a good Samaritan to our suffering brothers and sisters in the hustle and bustle for our momentary pleasures and comforts that we think are so important. Still, we should be able to go a step further and raise before our conscience a question as to why our carelessness, lack of consideration, negative attitudes, sometimes even our transgressions have made the lives of others miserable and wounded their hearts.
Let there be a thought in our minds that we are the ones who ignore the cries of the suffering people or silence them. Let us be the face of mercy. May we be able to see Christ in people who are in pain, to be with them, to pour the ointment of love and mercy on the wounds. Like the Samaritan, let us pray to Jesus, who heals all pain and sickness, for men who are going through suffering. “Take care of them, minister to them, heal them”. May God also work in us to be leaven of mercy to the world.