O Lord, Our God, We Are Sick. Heal Us.

“Formed out of dust, molded from clay, we are trampled by the vices, we are under the sway of sin, we are worn out by anxiety, we wither in our members, we disintegrate in death, we shudder at the stinking tombs; and we are found so incapable of virtue, and so capable of vice.”

That’s how a meditation in Magnificat today begins. It’s from Saint Peter Chrysologus, whose feast day is today. It is searingly timely, given many things in the news, but one in particular — involving Planned Parenthood and the babies we have been looking away from under the guise of euphemisms like “women’s health” and “freedom” and “choice” — that should have us all praying.

I propose doing to so together at 3 P.M. Friday, the day of the week and time we commemorate our Lord’s death for us on the cross. See here.

St. Peter continues:

So the prophet, mindful of human frailty, and aware of his carnal nature, and because he put no trust in his no merits, fled hastily to be helped by mercy, so that God’s judgment in his regard might consist of kindness rather than severity.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger. That is to say: rebuke me, but not in anger; reprove me, but not in rage. Rebuke me as a Father, but not as a Judge; reprove me not as Lord, but as a Parent. Rebuke me, not to do me in, but to correct me. And why should you do this? Because I am sick. Have mercy on me, Lord, … because I am sick.

What is sicker than a person whose understanding fails him, whose ignorance deceives him, whose judgment escapes him, who is deluded by vanity, for whom time is fleeting….

Couldn’t this describe so much of out culture? So much of our lives?

He finishes up:

And what do you want? Heal me, O Lord. This one feels the wounds of his condition, he feels the bite of the ancient serpent, he feels the sin of his first parent. He recognizes that he has fallen into these afflictions by being born, and he recognizes that he has arrived at death from his natural condition. And because human skill was unable to do away with death, he is forced to appeal for divine medicine. And so as the more easily to obtain the cure for his illness, he reveals the causes of that illness, he describes its symptoms, he makes known its magnitude, he expresses how violent his pain.

Heal us, O Lord. Heal the wounds of a culture of death. Be the remedy for our illness. Help us to let you be our Father and Healer and bring us to yourself so that we may truly love and be your healing touch and word and witness in the world — and especially to those who have suffered under the ravages a dehumanization and commodification of life –- and love.

Let us pray together — wherever we are — Friday at 3 P.M.