On January 23, we remember and pray to Saint Marianne Cope, a religious of the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis in Syracuse, New York.
Sister Cope served as a principal and teacher in New York schools and helped establish two Catholic hospitals. From there, she went to Hawaii to serve the lepers of Molokai, where she met and assisted Saint Damien for thirty-five years.
Saint Marianne Cope is a role model and inspiration for each of us to reach out to those in need in our families, circle of friends, and beyond, with compassion.
In the Gospel of Mark, we see the effect of Jesus' compassion and healing power. Large numbers of people from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River, and from Tyre and Sidon were all drawn to Jesus because they believed He could heal them.
To remain in their presence, but not be crushed by the press of humanity, Jesus entered a boat. Mark tells us that Jesus had cured many, and so those who heard Him flocked to Him, believing if only they could touch Him, they too would be healed.
Jesus also had cast out unclean spirits from people who were possessed by the Devil. These unclean spirits would speak the truth, saying, “You are the Son of God.”
As I was writing this homily, I was trying to remember if I had ever been in crowd like Mark describes in the gospel. I think we’ve all seen images on TV or the internet of people surging toward aid trucks after natural disasters for food, water, and medical supplies. Likewise, many of us have been to the hospital and seen the masses of people in waiting rooms or inside the Emergency Room with people on stretchers in the hallway waiting to be seen by a doctor or moved to a room.
Likewise, I am sure Saints Cope and Damien must have experienced a series of dramatic scenes when they sought to serve the lepers of Molokai in the Name of Jesus, and Mark’s words would have resonated with them.
In each of these cases, people are seeking help, whether from Jesus, religious men and women, or ordinary people like you and me who work in disaster relief and healthcare. Saint Marianne Cope and Mark’s gospel remind us of Jesus' healing power through the Sacraments of Confession, the Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist, where we can not only touch Him but also receive Him into our bodies.
Saint Paul writes to the Hebrews: "Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them."
Just like the people in the Gospel of Mark, may we always have faith and hope in approaching Jesus for our families, friends, and all our needs.
Father David S. Marcham is a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston and serves as Vice Postulator and Guild Director of the Cause for Canonization of Venerable Patrick Peyton. Before entering St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, he worked for eleven years as a physical therapist in Boston-area hospitals. Ordained in 2005, Father David was assigned to St. Mary Parish in Franklin, Massachusetts. His involvement in Father Peyton’s Cause began in 2007, when he assisted Father George Lucas, C.S.C., in advancing the Cause for Canonization. Appointed Vice Postulator in 2009, Father David oversees the progress of the Cause, directs the Guild, and promotes devotion to Father Peyton’s legacy of family prayer.
