A Litany Prayer for Our Time

O Jesus Christ, my Savior and healer, You traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At Your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience Your protection, providence, and healing.

Show forth Your mighty hand!

Renew faith in our people so that they may come to truly know You as Savior and Redeemer, acknowledge You as the source of every good gift, and live as witnesses to Your power and glory as You overcome all things.

Show forth Your mighty hand! 

Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health and return to Your Holy Church to give thanks and take up anew witness to You.  Heal us also from our fear and from all panic.

Show forth Your mighty hand!

Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.  Welcome those who have died from the virus into Your heavenly kingdom.

Show forth Your mighty hand!

Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.

Show forth Your mighty hand!

Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help, who put themselves at risk in the process. May they be enlightened by the power and outpouring of Your Holy Spirit so as to find a treatment and a vaccine and to stay strong in the battle.

Show forth Your mighty hand!

Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.

Show forth Your mighty hand!

Jesus, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.

Show forth Your mighty hand!

Jesus Christ, heal us.

Show forth Your mighty hand!

Amen! Amen!

Reflection for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Go your way.
Your way is my way Lord.

“Jesus told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

Bartimeus literally means Bar-Timeus – the son of Timeus. People saw the son of Timeus as a man without hope. He sat along the road, a blind beggar.

Bartimeus had heard of Jesus and his miracles, and learned that He was passing by. He was filled with hope – he knew that through Jesus, the Messiah, he might recover his eyesight.

Bartimeus came to Jesus for help. As we face the week, and the months ahead, with storms, anxieties, the pressures of holidays (imposed by the world’s view of what the holidays are – not the Church’s view), and other stresses, we must know that we may come to Jesus with the same hope that Bartimeus had – hope for help.

Like Bartimeus, we have heard of Jesus, and we know His miracles. We know that He isn’t just passing by, but is with us at every moment. Like Bartimeus we have every right to call out to Him in hope. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

God truly delivers help and healing. He delivered Israel from bondage and brought them back. They left in tears and sinfulness and returned on level roads rejoicing. Likewise He gathers us in, protects us, and delivers us when we call out to Him.

As Jesus called to Bartimeus, He calls to us. Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The gracious call of Jesus gives us hope to come to him in our need. If we come to him in hope we shall have what we came for. He will open our eyes to the miracles and wonders guaranteed to His children.

Bartimeus cast aside his garments. We too must cast away the garment of self-sufficiency, and free of the weight of doubt we may go forward with clear eyes. Jesus clears our vision, lifting all the weights that bear down on us.

Now it is up to us. Jesus told Bartimeus – receive your sight, be it unto you as you desire. “Go your way,” that is, to your own house, about your own business.

Bartimeus was given the choice that is in front of all of us. Jesus gives us what we ask for and gives us the opportunity to see clearly. Bartimeus saw clearly and chose to follow Jesus – to Jerusalem and beyond.

Bartimeus saw not just physically, but with the eyes of faith. As we face our anxieties, let us ask Jesus for the help we hope for, the hope He has guaranteed. Then let us respond with eyes of faith to follow Him.