The Belgian Priest, Fr. Damien of Molokai spent sixteen years caring for the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of those of the leper colony on the island of Molokai of Hawaii. He died in 1889 at the age of 49 after contracting leprosy himself.
St. Damien wrote, “I make myself a leper with lepers to gain all to Jesus Christ.”
This sort of total abandonment to service is incomprehensible to the world. Father Damien was even criticized by fellow Christians for what seemed like carelessness. And yet, when he himself contracted the disease, he did not flee into misery and shame. He became a suffering servant, “a leper with lepers”. During the last four years of his life, after contracting leprosy, Fr. Damien continued to build hospitals and physical, spiritual, and emotional care for the lepers.
Damien also taught the lepers to farm, raise animals, play musical instruments, and sing. Although the lepers were used to being patronized or bullied, Damien spread among them a new cheer and sense of worth.
In the Homily for St. Damien’s canonization in 2009, Pope Benedict XVI urged the faithful to learn from “the luminous example of” the saints, men and women who “did not put themselves at the center but chose to go against the current and live according to the Gospel.”
What does Pope Benedict mean that the saints do not put themselves at the center? For many people, there egos do not allow themselves to even consider humble hidden service. If they are not going to be seen, if they aren’t going to be recognized, if they aren’t going to be rewarded...they are not interested.
The saint rather enters into the world of the forgotten and the outcast, in order to show them, that they are not forgotten by God. The saints become effective instruments of the life and love and power of God because of their willingness to do so in humility, to go wherever they are sent, without excuses. And they do not let the weight of their own cross, in the case of St. Damien, his leprosy, keep them from continuing to serve with abandon. Notice, too, how his leprosy, his cross enable him to draw even closer.
How might the Lord be calling you to embody this spirit of hidden, humble service to the outcast and forgotten, to become an ever effective instrument of God’s mercy and love for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
- - - - - - -
That all Christians may be deeply committed to the spread of Christ’s Gospel, and for the success of the Church’s missionary activity. Let us pray to the Lord.
For those in public office: may they govern with wisdom and compassion for the most vulnerable among us—especially unborn children, the elderly, the indigent, and persons with disabilities. Let us pray to the Lord.
That the isolated and abandoned may know the love of God through the labors of the Church. Let us pray to the Lord.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the deceased members of our families friends and parishes, for those who fought and died for our freedom, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.
Graciously grant our petitions, we beseech thee, O Lord; may your grace sustain us always in your service, through Christ Our Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment