“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13)

 On Sept. 30, 2019 — the Memorial of St. Jerome, Bishop and Doctor of the Church — Pope Francis established that “the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God.” In establishing “Sunday of the Word of God,” the late Holy Father reminded us of the importance of reading the Bible as part of our faith practice.

This year’s “Bible Sunday” falls on Jan. 25. In a paper published by The Catholic Register on the celebration of “Bible Sunday” in 2023, I discussed the importance of reading the Bible in the context of who God is and who we are as His children (Catholic Register, Jan. 22, 2023). I emphasized that “with proper interpretation, the Bible conveys a message of hope, peace and love” to us. As a hospital priest-chaplain, I have noticed the Bible is popular among patients and their family members. I encounter the sick and their family members who share with me of the spiritual significance in reading some Biblical passages. For example, Margaret, a terminally ill patient requested that I read Psalm 23 — “The Lord is my shepherd” — whenever I visited her. She told me the passage offered her peace and comfort.

Advertisement

I have also learned that some patients identify themselves with some of the sick and suffering individuals such as Job (Book of Job) in Biblical stories. I visited John who was suffering from a debilitating disease. At one visit, he told me that he saw himself in the blind man Bartimaeus crying out to Jesus for help (Mark 10:46-52). John said his connection with Bartimaeus brought him hope in times of uncertainty. Even though the Biblical texts were written in the context of a culture that is different from our own, the sick see these stories as their own stories. Their connection with the sick in Biblical stories helps them to spiritually encounter God’s compassionate presence.  

Advertisement

The Gospels are full of stories about Jesus’ ministry to the sick and the dying. It is in the context of Jesus’ ministry to the sick that the Church assumes a great responsibility in caring for the sick and the dying. These Biblical stories of Jesus’ ministry offer us an inspiration of our call to journey with our sick brothers and sisters to offer them support. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick was deeply rooted in Jesus’ own ministry. Whenever we celebrate this sacrament, we encounter Jesus’ presence and God’s gift of comfort, healing and peace to the sick and to the hospital community.

The Bible and its teachings play a very important role when dealing with end-of-life situations and death. The Bible tells us that we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26) and redeemed by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:7). The dying process can be complicated and there are difficult questions surrounding it. In our modern world of medical technology, the terminally ill patients can encounter difficult choices about medical procedures and treatments. The Church’s answers to the questions surrounding care at end-of-life situations are based on the teachings of life in Sacred Scriptures. Jesus teaches us how we can bring God’s love and compassion to others especially to the dying. For example, in the availability of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), the Church continues to affirm with compassion and wisdom the importance of palliative care for the terminally ill patients. In palliative care we journey with the dying by offering them care, comfort and compassion. When death occurs, members of the community find hope and consolation in God’s promise of eternal life (John 3:16).

Advertisement

God still speaks to us through His Son Jesus. His words are “spirit and life” (John 6:63). Reading the Bible can help us keep perspective of where we are on our journey of faith to God. Reading the Bible can help us encounter the loving presence of God who guides and supports us in His Spirit. Our Lord promises us that He will be with us till the end of time (Matt. 28:20). The Sacred Scriptures remind us that we are children of God and that is what we are (1 John 3:1). In a special way on this year’s celebration of the “Sunday of the Word of God,” let us turn to God to help us live as His children. When we strive to live as children of God based on the Biblical teachings of caring, we can be sources of hope, peace and love to others.

(Fr. Acheampong is priest-chaplain at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.)