Our
Lady of Lourdes (World Day of the Sick) Homily- Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo
Readings:
Isa 66:10-14c; Ps Judith 13:18cde, 19 John 2:1-11
The Healing Role of a Mother
Today we
celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the sick. It was
on this day, February 11 1858, in Southern France, Lourdes, that the Blessed
Virgin Mary made her first of the eighteen appearances to Sister, Saint
Bernadette, and then a 14 year old Maria Bernade of Soubirous.
The message
of Lourdes is a message of a loving and comforting mother, conceived without
sin(immaculate conception) but now wishing her children well, inviting them to conversion, penance,
simplicity of life, humility, prayer and charity especially to the poor and the
sick. It is a significant prayer and messaging day in the Church that goes back
to the times of Popes Leo XIII, Pius the X and the XI who canonized Sister
Bernadette in 1933.
As you all
know it wasn’t easy for Bernadette to initially convince his family, the community
and the local church of her encounter with Mary at the grotto and the healing
spring of water that she found there. Faith takes some time to grow and mature.
In the years
following this apparition there have been many physical and spiritual healings at
Lourdes, which has become a place of spiritual pilgrimage today. Many of you
have been there. I was there in June 2013, and even went further celebrate Mass in the Convent of Saint Gildard, in Nevers, where the incorruptible body of Saint Bernadette is
preserved. My visit to Lourdes was a life changing experience for me, watching people (Catholics
and Protestants) regained their faith and walked away from the Grotto, healed
and renewed with a loving acceptance of divine will through the intercessory role
of Mary, our Mother.
In the first
reading of today, Trito Isaiah (Isa 66:10-14c) presents us Jerusalem and God as
a mother, who not only gives birth, but
breast feeds, nurse, cares, fondles, loves and comforts her children in good
times and in bad times, in health and in sickness. She provides for her
children.
At Cana in
Galilee today, during a weeding ceremony, the same woman that appeared to
Sister Bernadette of Sibourous turned to Jesus and said, Son, “they have no
wine”(John 2:1-11) and wine was provided, shielding the community from imminent embarrassment
and affliction.
Today is also
the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. We are invited at this Mass to pray for
the sick, the poor, and the suffering especially those very closed to us and
members our community. In our formation here, studies and work we also ask God
for all the energy we need, the patience, prudence, wisdom, humility and
discerning spirit to respond to our vocation bearing the sign of the times and
the church of the poor, in mind.
In all these
may we continue to recognize in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary her
role as the Health of the Sick and the Comfort of the Afflicted.
