The JOY of Serving: A Medical Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2010

(Sharing at the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 17 July 2010)

The joy of serving the sick in Lourdes is the joy announced in the New Testament, the joy of the presence of God in the mystery of the incarnation of Jesus.

The joy of the aged Zachary when the angel of the Lord appeared to him and announced that he would have a son, John, “You will have joy and gladness…” (Lk 1:14).

The feeling in Elizabeth whose “child in her womb leapt for joy” when she was visited by Mary. (Lk 1:44)

The great joy of the women in finding the empty tomb of Jesus “who was crucified and was risen as he said he would.” (Mt 28: 6,8)

For those who are crushed by sin, who experience the greatest joy of God’s eternal forgiveness.

John’s Gospel explains the link between the baptised and the Mystery of the Incarnation in the plan to attain eternal happiness: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower…Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit… Abide in me as I abide in you.” (Jn 15: 1-4)

Joy became a community experience in the first Christian Community: “Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)

We of the SFX parish, are priest, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and pilgrims in communion. We are in Lourdes, invited to the Grotto by Mary our Mother, to meet her son Jesus, the Saviour of all humanity, in the mystery of the Church.

We meet Jesus in the Eucharist. We adore Him in the Eucharist, we accompany Him during the procession and we are filled with the same great joy when we serve Him in the sick person.

We are invited to the Grotto because we are carers and volunteers in the service of the sick. Our Lady wished the sick to come to Lourdes.

The sick person is a kind of icon of every man and woman in search of healing. In the words of S. Camille de Lellis, “The sick are our lords and masters and we should serve them as if we were their servants and slaves.”

This is the spirit of the Grotto, the path which the Church indicates to each one of us. Lourdes is first and foremost the grace of healing for all. For some it is the healing of the body.

At their side there is always a nurse, doctor, priest, nun, volunteer, a miracle of organisation to welcome and assist the sick, handicapped and other pilgrims, with and in joy.

In Lourdes, we rediscover the joy of serving the sick, the joy of the Gospel, the joy of the Eucharist, the joy of fellowship, the joy of healing. In this way we give witness to the message of Lourdes.

Bernadette said, “The Grotto is my Heaven.” In joy, anything can happen in the Grotto, as has been witnessed since 1858.

It is Jesus who gives us signs – and what powerful signs..

Matthew described Jesus’ cures:

•          A leper

•          Centurion’s servant

•          Two possessed demoniacs

•          A paralytic

•          A woman with haemorrhage for 12 years

•          Two blind men

•          A dumb demoniac

•          The daughter of a synagogue leader

Everyday, in joy is repeated the great and true miracle of Lourdes: a Church which is servant, in wait for the healing of each one, every one. Renewed joy for us to be called to serve the Sick at the Grotto.

Joy which is in our hearts and inspires our actions may be obvious to all, in the pilgrimages, in the SFX parish, in the places we work, among friends, and in our every day offering of our thanksgiving to God for His infinite Mercy.