Pbro. José Juan Sánchez Jácome / ACN.- Before asking for peace and health, one must receive the word of God, like the Virgin Mary who, before receiving Jesus in her womb, had already accepted him in her heart. The saints highlight this formidable aspect in the life of the Most Holy Virgin Mary.
St. Augustine says that “Mary conceived Jesus in her heart before conceiving him in her womb”. And St. John Eudes maintains that: “Just as the Eternal Father granted Mary to conceive his Son first in her Heart and then in her virginal womb, he also gave her the power to form him in the hearts of the children of Adam”.
That is Mary’s ministry: to accompany us so that Jesus may be formed in our heart. Following Mary’s example, we must make room for the Lord so that we may be inhabited by his presence and receive the gifts he promises.
In difficult moments, it is necessary to turn to Jesus’ suffering in Gethsemane (Lk 22:39-46) to know how to proceed in a moment of anguish, in such a way that we cling to prayer.
Sometimes suffering overwhelms us and illnesses worsen because we abandon prayer. Jesus, from his own suffering, insists on us: “pray so as not to fall into temptation”.
The devil has no mercy on anyone, he does not pity anyone, much less the sick. We are bad, we are not perfect, but in the face of a sick person, we have compassion because mercy remains in our lives. In the face of affliction, we do not pass by and we help people, we try to be attentive to their needs. Because beyond sin and our wickedness, there are signs of goodness in our heart.
But the devil has no pity on anyone, not even the dying. He comes to suggest and torment us with so many ideas that make illness and tribulations unbearable. The demon seeks moments of illness, tribulation, and true adversity to weaken us, to sink us in our pain and separate us from God.
That is why, in illness, those kinds of thoughts arrive: “God no longer loves me, he has forgotten me, he is taking revenge for my past sins”; “I am paying for the mistakes committed throughout life”. Those thoughts come from the evil one and torture the soul. They make us fall into pessimism, sadness, and hopelessness.
Illness is very hard, but the interpretation we make of it is worse. Suffering is very hard when the doctor gives us the diagnosis, but sometimes the interpretation is harder, when we swallow Satan’s poison when he comes to instill ideas contrary to God in us.
As we are defenseless and weak in illness, not only physically but also spiritually, that is why Jesus insists on prayer so as not to fall into temptation, so as not to fall into despair, so as not to turn our back on God, so as not to feel rejected by him.
The Gospel highlights that the more Jesus suffered, the more he prayed; the more alone he felt, the more he prayed; the more pains reached his soul, the more he clung to God. If sufferings increase, pray more, like Jesus who prayed more the more he suffered.
Usually we do the opposite because when things do not happen in the time one wants, we tend to despair; when things do not change in the time one wants, we rebel and give up prayer, which is the only thing that keeps hope alive.
Jesus asks for the presence of God, consolation, and the Gospel says that the angels came to console the Lord. Like so many angels who come to the beds and homes of the sick to console them, to tell them that they are not alone, that the Church prays for them, that they are in the communion of saints. We must recognize these manifestations of God’s love through those angels, those special people, those brothers who care and suffer with us the illnesses. They came to console Jesus because the more he suffered, the more he prayed.
In prayer, Jesus reaches another stage when he says: “not my will but yours be done”. How hard it is to say it! And it is only within reach of great souls. I want to heal, let this cup pass from me, let things be resolved; I want peace, consolation, I do not want to go through these moments of darkness, but may your will be done, Lord.
I am deeply moved by the testimony that St. Bernadette gave, who said that when one has seen the Virgin, one would want to die at that moment to see her again. The Lady is so beautiful that one feels like dying to see her again. If you have already seen her, you would not want to stop seeing her.
On one occasion, a religious sister showed Bernadette a photo of the places in Lourdes and expressed the greatness of having been chosen for such a great gift. Bernadette merely smiled and, with apparent naivety, asked: “- Sister, what is a broom for? – To sweep. Bernadette continued asking: – And after? – It is put away in its place, behind the door. – That is what the Virgin has done with me. She used me and has put me back in my place. And I am very well like this”.
I do not seek greatness, I have no other ambitions, I know what the Virgin did with me, the mission I have fulfilled in life, and that is worth for eternity. “The Virgin used me”, she said it with words that are hard to understand and before which one can be scandalized, but they reflect the greatness of St. Bernadette’s soul. The Virgin used me, then they put me behind the door and that is where I want to be. That is my place. Now it is my turn to pray for the Church and for the sick.
I do not want to lose communion with God because having God, nothing will be lacking for us. Therefore, let us go to the tabernacle to talk with Jesus. And before speaking of pains and sorrows, begin by expressing love for God. Before any petition, make this confession of love. Tell God that you love him, that you are grateful for everything you have received from him. Right now you are sick and going through difficulties, but not all of life has been like this. And one must be grateful for everything that has been lived, built, and achieved through God’s providence.
Think of all the blessings that have come into your life, thank them. And now, like Jesus, let us pause a little on the tears, sufferings, illnesses, and tribulations. When opening our heart to God to expose this suffering, let us do it like Jesus, in prayer, not in a tone of complaint, claim, or rebellion, but in prayer.
Tell God: here are my wounds, my injuries, pains, sufferings, illnesses, the diagnosis the doctor has given me, the daily struggle, the uncertainty about what will happen. This is my reality, my sorrow, affliction, and sadness, and I place it, Lord, in your hands.
I place in your hands this that I cannot carry alone. And through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, we beseech you, Lord, to assist us to continue fighting, to recover health, and not to lose faith.
May illness not make us lose sight of everything we have: “You have God and the protection of the Virgin. What more can you ask? Do not say that you lack something because you have everything” (St. Raphael Arnaiz). Let us not forget, we are in the heart of the Mother: “The Sorrowful Virgin. When you contemplate her, look at her Heart: it is a Mother with two children, face to face: He… and you” (St. Josemaría Escrivá).
Tienes a Dios y la protección de la Virgen. ¿Qué más puedes pedir?