Today is World Day of the Sick - Reflection by Dean Sue

Photo by Kamil Szumotalski on Unsplash
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Today is World Day of the Sick. Its observance was started by Pope John Paul II as a way for believers to offer prayers for those suffering from illnesses. The day also coincides in the Catholic Church with the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Pope John Paul II initiated the day in 1992 to encourage people to pray for those who suffer from illness and for their caregivers. The Pope himself had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s a year before, in 1991, and it is believed that his own illness was the impetus for his designation of the day.

This past year we have spent most of our waking hours thinking about and praying for those who have Covid 19 and for the frontline staff who care for them. Sickness and fear of illness has become the norm for many people. My heart goes out to all those medical staff who have spent the last year wearing PPE and battling to save people’s lives. I cannot imagine what it must be like to spend day after day in what can only be described as some sort of war zone.

What has become evident to me over the past year is the fragility of life and how much we take our health for granted, both physical health and our mental well-being. My prayer on this ‘World Day of the Sick’ is a prayer for healing and wholeness in all aspects of our lives. It is a prayer for physical health, for mental health and for a healthy way of living and being.

We live in environments that are not healthy, we live lives that run from one thing to the next, but if this past year has taught me anything it is to rest in the love of God. To be open to healing from within and to pray daily for the sicknesses in our world and for all those who work for healing, wholeness and peace. Above all it has taught me to be grateful for my health.
 
Let us pray:

Hear the prayer we offer for all your people.
Remember in your mercy those for whom we pray:
heal the sick, raise the fallen, strengthen the fainthearted
and enfold in your love the fearful and those without hope.
In the fullness of time complete your gracious work.
Reconcile all things in Christ and make them new,
that we may be restored in your image, renewed in your love,
and serve you as sons and daughters in your kingdom. Amen

Dean Sue

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.