On this day, many years ago, my sister and I received the Sacrament of Confirmation. I always remember the date because it was very special to celebrate it with her as my closest sibling, both in age and sentiment. The faith we had learned throughout our childhood was confirmed and sealed and we were sent forth.
This time of year can feel anticlimactic for some of us. The Easter season is now over and the end of the school year brings so much busyness and added stress. We are called upon to attend family members’ sacraments, graduations and birthday parties, all the while trying to figure out what the heck we’re going to do over the summer.
I will always remember a good friend of mine stating that Ordinary Time was his favorite time of the year. He pointed out that priests wear green at Mass, and that this color is a symbol of growth, just as the green buds appear on the leaves and grow within nature.
But as I write this, I am not feeling compelled to be joyful in growth or nature or anything at all. A family member is struggling with mental illness, compounded by addition, compounded by homelessness. He seems to be caught in a cycle that he is powerless to get out of, despite doctors and medication and hours upon hours spent on our knees, and he has come to the conclusion that suicide is the only answer. There is only so much that we, his family members can do. Most of his situation is out of our hands. All of his situation is in God’s hands.
All of us know people who are suffering or perhaps we are suffering ourselves. I invite you to reflect on the following excerpts from today’s readings. May they bring comfort to your soul.
First Reading: “Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing a song of praise. Is anyone among you sick?He should summon the presbyters of the Church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up.”
Psalm: “O Lord, to you I call; hasten to me; hearken to my voice when I call upon you. Let my prayer come like incense before you.”
Gospel: “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
Esta época del año puede resultar decepcionante para algunos de nosotros. La temporada de Pascua ya se acabó y el final del año escolar trae consigo mucho ajetreo y estrés adicional. Se nos pide que asistamos a los sacramentos, graduaciones y reuniones familiares, mientras tratamos de planificar qué vamos a hacer durante el verano.
Siempre recordaré a un buen amigo mío que decía que el Tiempo Ordinario era su época favorita del año. Señaló que los sacerdotes se visten de verde en la Misa, y que este color es símbolo de crecimiento, así como los capullos verdes aparecen en las hojas y crecen dentro de la naturaleza.
Pero mientras escribo esto, no me siento obligado a sentirme feliz por el crecimiento, ni la naturaleza, ni nada en absoluto. Un miembro de la familia está luchando contra una enfermedad mental, agravada por la adicción, agravada por vivir en la calle. Parece estar atrapado en un ciclo del que no puede salir, a pesar de los médicos, los medicamentos y las horas y horas que pasamos de rodillas, y ha llegado a la conclusión de que el suicidio es la única respuesta. Hay muy poco que nosotros, los miembros de su familia, podemos hacer. La mayor parte de su situación está fuera de nuestras manos. Toda su situación está en las manos de Dios.
Todos conocemos a personas que están sufriendo o quizás nosotros mismos estamos sufriendo. Los invito a reflexionar sobre las siguientes líneas de las lecturas de hoy. Que traigan consuelo a tu alma.
Primera Lectura: “¿Sufre alguno de ustedes? Que haga oración. ¿Está de buen humor? Que entone cantos al Señor. ¿Hay alguno enfermo? Que llame a los presbíteros de la Iglesia, para que oren por él y lo unjan con aceite, invocando al Señor. La oración hecha con fe le dará la salud al enfermo y el Señor hará que se levante.”
Salmo: “A ti clamo, Señor, acude pronto; cuando te invoco, escucha mi plegaria. Que sea mi oración como el incienso.”
Evangelio: “Dejen que los niños se acerquen a mí y no se lo impidan, porque el Reino de Dios es de los que son como ellos.”
Feature Image Credit: Dev Asangbam, unsplash.com/photos/woman-in-brown-sweater-covering-her-face-with-her-hand-_sh9vkVbVgo
Tami Urcia grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling projects, finding fun ways to keep her little ones occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works full time, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for over 20 years.
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