Our focused Acts of Mercy this month are “visit the sick”
and “visit the imprisoned.” You might
wonder why we have these two together.
How is it possible that these two are related? In all honesty, if we look beyond the words,
we can and do see a deep connection.
This month’s Works of Mercy are challenging to say the
least. First of all, these Works demand
effort and commitment on our part. We
must clearly make a decision to do these Works.
Secondly, these Works move us outside our comfort zones entirely; there
is no easy way to visit the sick or the imprisoned. And, these Works make us confront our own
illnesses and prisons.
Let us look a little closer at Visiting the Sick.
Going to a hospital or care facility can be disturbing. There are sights, sounds and smells in those
places that are not part of our regular environment. We may encounter people connected to machines
by tubes and wires. The machines may
make sounds; beeps, whirls, pumping noises, alarm type sounds. There may be monitors with lights flashing,
lines traveling across a screen monitoring heart beats, body temperatures, and
respiration rates. We may smell
antiseptic and disinfectant everywhere.
The smell of alcohol from hand sanitizer may be wafting through the
halls, blending with a variety of foods and drinks that are being delivered to
patients’ rooms. And, we may see and
hear our friends and loved ones in pain or discomfort; perhaps they are confused
or disoriented. Maybe they are unable to
respond to our presence; perhaps they do not even know we are there. Human touch is encouraged. So there may be lots of handholding, maybe
brushing hair out of the face. Maybe
rubbing a back, or just sitting still with a hand on an arm.
What about visiting a prison or jail?
Visiting someone we care about in a prison or jail is also
unsettling. Again, there are sights and
sounds, and smells that we are not familiar with. Antiseptic and disinfectant are clearly
present to our noses. The sounds we hear
are different; loud buzzers and bells, whistles, rattling cell doors, clanging
bullet and riot proof glass doors abound.
We encounter guards everywhere, armed with clubs, and weapons. The visiting room is starkly furnished;
probably with stainless steel furniture that is bolted to the floor. There may be a vending machine where soda and
snacks can be purchased. Before getting
that far, your personal affects will be stored in a locker and you will be
limited to the amount of money you can take with you; change only for the
vending machines. Human touch is
limited; if you are allowed to see the person face to face, person to person, a
handshake or a hug may be ok, but you might be visiting by looking at each other
through a Plexiglas window and use a telephone to talk back and forth with.
In either place there is a loneliness that sets in. The regularity of human interaction is
lacking; conversations about things that matter to the person are limited. Social outlets are non-existent. A new routine develops…set times for sleep
and waking, for eating and recreating, for bathing and exercise.
In both places one is left to their own thoughts and
ponderings, memories, and perhaps regrets.
Maybe their time is used for prayer; for connecting with God.
As we visit the sick and imprisoned, we may indeed find
ourselves identifying our own shortcomings and sinfulness; those things that
keep our spirits sick and confined.
Would we not want people to be there for us? Would we not want to know
that someone else cared about our wellbeing? Would we not long to see another
human being; to feel the gentle touch of someone in our darkest hour, in our
loneliest moments?
Our task, our
challenge in visiting with the sick and imprisoned is to be agents of hope and
love, messengers of care and compassion, people of tenderness and mercy. In our actions and words, we are to be the
face of God for those who may not remember nor even know God. What
was it Jesus said, “…as often as you do this for one of these least ones, you
do it for me…” (Matthew 25:40)
Dr. Cheryl Fournier
Pastoral Associate for Life-Long Faith Formation
SPX
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