​Quiet Heroes

In today’s Gospel Jesus worked his first miracle in Mark’s Gospel – and it’s a healing – no surprise there. The entire ministry of Jesus demonstrated His compassion for the suffering. He laid hands on lepers, restored sight to the blind, returned vitality to those whose limbs have failed them, and saved Peter’s mother-in-law from her fever. In well-fed cultures like ours, we may not appreciate how threatening fevers are to the malnourished, who don’t have the physical resources to feed the fever that fends off the infection. Fevers were often death sentences. Jesus, instructed of her fragility, moved directly to her aid, and with a touch, restored her completely.

​Oh, to be able to lay hands and cure!

Even though we don’t have Jesus’ amazing powers, we can do the same good work as those attending Peter’s mother-in-law, in bringing Him to the afflicted. We do our best to see to it that those who are unable to join us on each weekend in person are still able to feel the Lord’s presence in their lives. To accomplish this, in our parish we have over thirty people, quiet heroes all, who do just that, bringing the Body of Christ to the sick and infirm.

They visit people in their homes, in convalescent hospitals, in assisted living residences, rehabilitation centers, and at both Pleasant Valley Hospital and St. John’s Hospital in Oxnard. Some of our ministers work full time and have families. Some are retired, and are generously making good use of their free time. They try, at each encounter, to spend some social time with their communicant, lead the sick in brief but intense and worshipful prayer, and then offer them communion.

I frequently note how deeply connected these ministers become to their charges, often accompanying them from home care, to hospital and convalescent care, all the way to their deaths, at times even attending their funerals. From personal experience, I can attest to the beautiful faith of our elderly and sick parishioners. I often feel that I receive more than those I visit, whose trust in, and love of the Lord is often so deep. 

Those that do will often exhibit many other beautiful qualities of generosity, tenderness, prayerfulness and compassion. In effect, they resemble Jesus, at least to me.

This ministry is not for everyone. I encourage you to consider joining this marvelous company of Christlike, quiet heroes. You don’t have to be wise or eloquent. You do need a caring heart, but I bet that’s already true about you.
Give this service some deep thought.

​Siempre adelante!
Fr. Patrick
Pastor

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