The power of love and care

In 1992, the Holy Father John Paul II designated February 11 as World Day of the Sick. He said that this day shall be “a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church, and of reminding us to see in our sick brother and sister the face of Christ, who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of mankind.” (Letter instituting the World Day of the Sick, 13 May 1992, 3).

To realize and respond to the Holy Father’s call, in 2001, we started observing the said celebration in our parish. We looked for the sick and aged parishioners, visited them, brought the holy viaticum at their beds, heard their confessions and invited them for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the parish church.

Last year, February 11, we had around 150 aged persons who came to the parish church. We celebrated the Holy Mass, administer to them the sacrament of anointing of the sick, provided medical assistance, said to them a blessing, and invited them for a common meal.

Such celebration primarily aims at helping the sick and elderly face their situation in life. Pope Benedict XVI in his message for the 15th World Day of the Sick this year said, “Sickness brings with it a moment of crisis and sober confrontation with one’s own personal situation.” It may be difficult indeed for the aged and sick to endure life. But being sick is not just a burden to bear but an opportunity to offer our sufferings to Jesus. It can become a blessing. Addressing the sick, the Holy Father continues, “I encourage you to contemplate the sufferings of Christ crucified… Trust that your sufferings, united to those of Christ, will prove fruitful for the needs of the Church and the world. I ask the Lord to strengthen your faith in his love, especially in moments of suffering.”

This celebration is also a fitting opportunity in this month of love for the children and the young to express their love and service for the sick and the aged, not only to their own sick loved ones but to their neighbor in the parish as well. When this is done, a new seed of change is planted.

Finally, this makes us realize the inter-dependence of the children and the aged. While the children or the young give joy to the aged, the aged guide and inspire the young.

James Aury rightly puts it, “The power of love and caring can change the world.”

Oras asin Panahon: Regalo nin Diyos

Ngonyan na bagong taon, satong paghorop-horopan an kahalagahan kan oras o panahon, the value of time. Igwang sarong magayon na parabola* manungod sa pagsabat kan bagong taon.

Sa enot na aldaw, naglalang an Diyos nin damulag. Sabi niya, “Magduman ka sa daga kaibanan an parauma, bilog na aldaw ika masakit sa init kan saldang, magkakaigwang mga kalyo an saimong kamot asin bitis, asin matao kang gatas tanganing suportahan an saimong among, asin tatawan takang 60ng taon para mabuhay.”

An sabi kan damulag, “Masakit man na maray an buhay na iyan na gusto mo sako. Tawi akong 20ng taon sana, asin itatao ko saimo an tadang 40.” Asin nag-uyon an Diyos.

Sa ikaduwang aldaw nilalang nin Diyos an ido. Sabi niya, “Magtukaw ka bilog na aldaw sa pwertahan kan saimong harong asin batokon mo an siisay man na maglaog o maki-agi. Tawan takang 20ng taon.” An sabi kan ido, “Halawigon na yan na panahon nin pagparabatok. Tawi ako nin 10ng taon, asin iuuli ko an tadang 10.” Asin nag-uyon an Diyos.

Sa ikatolong aldaw, nilalang nin Diyos an kabalang. Sabi niya, “Paogmahon mo an mga tawo, maggibo ka nin mga monkey tricks, pangisihon mo sinda. Tawan takang 20ng taon nin buhay.” An sabi kan kabalang, “Boring naman yan monkey tricks sa 20ng taon? Binalik saimo kan ido an 10ng taon, iyo man iyan an gibohon ko, okay?” Nag-uyon an Diyos.

Sa ikaapat na aldaw nilalang nin Diyos an tawo. Sabi nin Diyos, “Magkakan ka, magturog, magkawat, mag-enjoy! Mayo kang ibang gigibohon kundi an magpasiram-siram sa buhay. Tawan takang 20ng taon.” An sabi kan tawo, “Ano? 20ng taon lang? Dae ko! Uya, akoon ko an 20, hagadon ko an hinaboan na 40 kan damulag, an 10 kan ido, asin an 10 pang hinaboan kan kabalang. Kaya bale 80 gabos, K?” “Deal!” uyon kan Diyos.

Kaya iyo iyan, sa enot na 20ng taon kita minakakan, minaturog, minakawat, asin nag-eenjoy sa buhay; sa sunod na 40ng taon minatrabaho kita sa irarum kan saldang tanganing suportahan an satong pamilya; sa sunod na 10ng taon gumigibo kita kan monkey tricks tanganing paogmahon an satong mga apo; asin sa huring 10ng taon minatukaw kita sa atubangan kan satong harong asin minabatok sa kun kiisay na mahiling!

Mga tugang, minapoon kita kan balaog nin bagong taon. Ini gikan sa satong Makakamhan na Diyos. Ano an ginigibo nyato sa satong oras asin panahon? Ano iyan uyon sa katuyuhan kan paglalang sa sato asin sa kabotan nin Kagurangnan? Sa anong kabtang ka na kan saimong panahon? Sa damulag, sa kabalang, sa ido? Ano an ginigibo mo?

Sinasabi na tinatawan kita nin mga 25,000ng aldaw para mabuhay. An iba kaini naubos na. Alagad, an Bagong Taon, pinapara an gabos na nakaagi asin minadolot nin nagliliwanag na 365ng aldaw. Ano, inaako mo ining dolot na ini? Ano an gigibohon mo sa saimong oras o panahon? Sabi kayan, “Masupog kamong magadan na mayo man lang na naginibohan!”

Lugod sa pagpoon nyato kan taon, pahalagahan nyato an satong oras asin panahon huli ta ini biyaya nin Diyos sa sato.

* See William J. Bausch, 40 More Seasonal Homilies. Mystic, CT: Twenty-third Puiblications, 2005, 17-18.