Palm Cross - Photo copyright 2012 John M. Kingery
Station 7: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem (Natural Medicine)
Theme: Human dignity requires human rights, including health care
Tema: La dignidad humana requiere de derechos humanos, incluyendo cuidado para la salud
Scripture: Mark 10:47-52
As they left Jericho, a great crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “[Lord,] Son of David, have pity on us!” The crowd warned them to be silent, but they called out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!” Jesus stopped and called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They answered him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight, and followed him.
Reflection by John Kingery of San Juan Diego Catholic Church: My wife Ann and I cried out for healing last year. Ann lost sight in her left eye after enduring over 50 surgeries over the last 20 years. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
“John, something is wrong with Ann. We are at St. Vincent’s emergency room”, my sister in-law said over the phone that February afternoon last year. I rushed to the hospital. Ann lay on the gurney staring into nothingness when I arrived. When asked to raise her left arm, she raised her right arm. She did not know who I was. I cried, “God, bring her back!” She did comeback.
Ann would experience another episode and undergo additional surgeries on her eye. Two months later, surgeons removed her left cornea, lenses and stents; the eye having been ravaged by fungus. Only darkness was left. She cried on Holy Thursday as the sun set in the western sky. Over the ensuing months, she slowly began to heal and adjust to her new life.
In early October, I received call at work from Ann. She cried, “Blue Cross said we have to pay all of the medical bills.” We had met all the deductibles and made sure everything was pre-authorized. This would wipe out our savings and a significant portion of our retirement. My father-in-law got me in contact with a mutual friend. We were to meet the coming Saturday morning.
Early that morning, I went to our church to pray. With outstretched arms, I cried, “God, help us!” God answered. It took six months culminating in a face to face meeting with a Blue Cross vice president. Prior to the meeting, I saw in their lobby a picture Ann had done for them 23 years ago. God was with me that day. They gave me a letter agreeing to pay all of the bills.
I work for Outside In which provides health care to homeless youth and the poor. I will continue to work and cry out for all who are denied adequate health care. Will you work and cry out too?
Prayers: We pray for doctors, nurses, staff and all health care providers who provide compassionate care.
WE THANK YOU, LORD
Petitions: We pray for the 130,000 infants who die each year because their mothers lack adequate health care.
O GOD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
We pray for the 500,000 who go bankrupt annually due to the cost of health care in our country.
O GOD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
We will work and cry out to our leaders to ensure that health care is truly available to all in our nation.
O LORD, WE WANT TO WALK IN YOUR WAYS