Fully aware of the effects of the government shutdown already in its 29th day, I was listening intently to one of the speakers at last Saturday’s Marian Conference in McAllen, Texas. He was also thinking about the predicament of the many unpaid government employees. He acknowledged that there are many souls who are quietly suffering right now.
Fr. Eduardo Ortega, a priest serving at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mercedes, Texas shared his thoughts about The Soul. The timeliness of this topic and the common-sense manner by which it was presented made my heart nod in agreement all throughout the presentation. Although I may not be able to capture exactly the ideas Fr. Ortega shared, I want to share some of the important thoughts I have learned.
When our physical body is sick, we take in medicines such as Tylenol and Aspirin, to get better. We become careful of our diet, and we exercise to alleviate the problem. When we get really sick, we go to the doctor for treatment. These are the basic remedies we do to get better. But there is one aspect that sustains our physical health – the soul, the invisible side of our being. A healthy soul is the best guarantee to a healthy body!
The soul is the most neglected part of our being. The soul sustains the body, and if it becomes weak and sick, the body does too. There are millions of wounded and bruised souls – the cause of which is SIN infection. Sin, the transgression against divine law, causes the soul to suffer. Sin is committed when we choose to please the world. We choose the world over the divine. When we do this and commit sin after sin, the soul becomes miserably ill, but it can’t be treated by any man-made cure.
For example, we are aware that one cause of cancer is the type of food we eat. We know that red meat or sugar is not good for the body, but we can’t stop eating them. We love chocolates, cakes, soft drinks, barbecues, and the like. We become obese, and, in the end become depressed. Depression is not a physical illness. It is a manifestation of a sick soul. We might be tempted to say that the sick soul is a result of the physical abnormality of obesity, but it is a result of the soul’s neglect of what it knew in the beginning – that sugars and meats, when taken excessively, is detrimental to health.
How many parents have neglected the souls of their children? How many mothers have given their children chocolates, cakes, sodas, and all other unhealthy foods? How many parents think they are depriving their children if they do not give them party-type foods? Shouldn’t their children deserve to be happy?
In some way or another, we are all guilty of not taking care of the souls entrusted to us. Parents not properly guiding their children. Leaders not living up to what they have sworn to do or community leaders not being good role models. As a result, children no longer not listen to authorities or even their own parents. Children nowadays merely follow the hype in social media.
We are all souls wounded, bruised, and infected by that virus called sin. We have all fallen short in our roles as parents, brothers, sisters, friends, and children. We all need to be cured. But who do we call? We can’t call the government’s protective services. We can’t call the medical doctors. We can’t just go to Walgreens and buy medicines. But there is good news. There is one unique doctor we can call. His name is Jesus.
Jesus is the person who made the lepers clean, the blind see, the deaf hear, and the dead rise. He was the one who transformed water into wine at a wedding feast. He was the one who multiplied the bread and fish to feed five thousand people. He did not accept payments when he
did those treatments. He just had one requirement – to trust in Him. He wants us to trust that he loves us unconditionally and that He can heal us. He wants us to cast all doubts that He alone can heal our souls. He promises that, if we remain connected to Him, we will be as healthy and robust as that tree planted near a stream. He also wants us to realize that we cannot cure ourselves. He says, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.”
Where can I find this Doctor? You can find Him every time an act of kindness is done to you. You can find Him every time you think about what good you want to do for somebody. You find Him in every handshake or smile. You find Him in the byways and at end of highways. You find Him in the poor and the downtrodden. You find Him where people are cold, where children are neglected, where people are dying of hunger and violence. He is ubiquitous. You can’t escape Him.
The first step to find Him is to say, “Jesus, I want to know you. Cure me from my illness.” As you say this, cast every doubt you have about Him. Believe in Him. Trust in Him. Trust that He cares and loves you. Trust – that is the non-negotiable requirement to avail of His services.
We will therefore decide, from today on, to trust Jesus – the greatest doctor of all times.
This Borrowed Scrap of Time 