Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. We also hear the Blessed Mother’s instruction in the Gospel of John to the waiter, to “Do whatever he tells you.”
One day I hope to make a pilgrimage to the Shrine at Lourdes in France. For, it is a place that I have heard about since I was a child, beginning with my mother’s powerful experience of witnessing throngs of people from around the world assisting family, friends, and even strangers who were ill and infirmed in wheelchairs and stretchers to join in the procession and Rosary prayer for all those seeking healing.
She never forgot it and wore an Our Lady of Lourdes medal the rest of her life. We here at Holy Cross Family Ministries have a presence at Lourdes in the person of Fr. Richard Seugero, C.S.C., who prays with and provides the healing sacraments of Confession and the Anointing of the Sick to many pilgrims in need.
What we remember on this day, is that our Blessed Mother appeared to a fourteen-year-old girl, Marie Bernarde Soubirous, in the countryside of France from February 11 to July 16 in 1858.One of the key messages from the Blessed Mother was “I am the Immaculate Conception.” The other was the maternal care of the Blessed Mother for us, her children.
This loving care is evidenced in today’s Gospel, when Mary notices that the wine has run out at the wedding reception in Cana. It’s reassuring when our mothers notice when there is a need as Mary did on that festive day. I know many of you are observant people too and you like to help find solutions to problems too. On an earthly level, if we can’t fix the problem ourselves, we think about who we can ask for help and then ask them….
Our Blessed Mother knew that Jesus could perform a miracle and save the day for the newlyweds and their guests and so she went to Him. This is the reason why we go to Jesus to help us with the needs of our family and friends and ourselves. But it is also why we can seek the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.
Jesus had not intended to perform a miracle until a later date when His public ministry began. This is why He says, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”
Mary then says, to the servers, “Do whatever He tells you.” Those words remind us of how Jesus taught us in praying to God the Father the words, “…thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Both express a faith in God to bring our loved ones and each of us to better a place and situation.
We rightly dedicate this day also to concern and care and prayer for our sick. Saint John Paul the 2nd initiated this day to remind us to care for the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of those who suffer. Pope Francis recently said the Bible shows how the sick always are at the center of the Lord's love and concern and the same should be true of the church.
As a priest, son, brother, uncle, and friend, I have been blessed to both give and receive from God his healing graces through the Sacraments. In addition, my family and I have been the beneficiaries of prayers and other assistance offered in times of need.
On this day, let us give thanks to God for all we have received and let also have the eyes and heart of our Blessed Mother and Our Lord Jesus to care for those who are ill and infirmed.