SCRIPTURE CORNER

"[Jesus] came again therefore into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain ruler, whose son was sick at Capharnaum." (John 4,46)

Anxious father sent for Divine Physician. It was right things to do so for we read: "Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most High hath created him. For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the king. The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the sight of great men he shall be praised. The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them. Was not bitter water made sweet with wood? The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and the meet High hath given knowledge to men, that he may be honoured in his wonders. By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end. For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth. My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord, and he shall heal thee. Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all offence. Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician. For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from thee, for his works are necessary. " (Ecclesiastes 38, 1-12). Do not wait too long until the help of physician will not be effective any longer! And do not think during the illness that you or someone else in you family will certainly recover. As much as we need to make every reasonable effort to prevent illness we need to remember that very often illness is the results of our own foolishness or is the way of Divine Providence to prevent greater evil or to induce necessary virtues in us. For Tobias was told: "And because thou wast acceptable to God, it was necessary that temptation should prove thee. And now the Lord hath sent me to heal thee(Tob 12, 13). Very often, God sends the illness to deliver us from unnecessary or harmful attachments to things of the world. "Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth" (Col 3,2). Ask the physician advice, take your precsribed medicines and above all PRAY for your recovery. When all this is done, leave to Divine Providence all the rest, according to God's pleasure and wisdom even if the means would appear very mysterious. Christians who groan and moan at slightest infirmity, are in want of abandonment to God's will, are in want of patience and are in want of piety - they are spitting images of genuine Christian. How do I behave when my health is failing? What is my attitude toward my neighbour's illness?
Am I compassionate enough to understand suffering of others? To help tactfully those who need my help? Do I accept help with humility and gratitude? Am I patient in my suffering? In helping others? If we find difficult to accept the will of God when He sends us illness and suffering, let us remember always the words of Job: "if we have received good things at the hand of God, why should we not receive evil?" (Job 2, 10)