February 23rd, 2025 - Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

This week, Jesus adds one more group to the list of those he regards as blessed but we find hard to love. And it is our enemies – those who bear the imprint of their Creator and are made in the image and likeness of Christ but make life difficult for us.   One common enemy we all face is sickness or disease. Christ does not call us to love this enemy, but Christ does call us to love all those who are afflicted with it -- especially those who are seriously or chronically ill, whose lives are racked with pain, whose lives have been diminished by aging, and who face major surgery or rehabilitation due to their broken bodies.  The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a sign and instrument of Christ’s healing grace. To those who are sick, it is a source of comfort and strength. To those who are caregivers of the sick, it is a source of relief and support. To all of us, it is a grace that bolsters our faith in times of anxiety and distress.