2716 Contemplative prayer is hearing the Word of God. Far from being passive, such attentiveness is the obedience of faith, the unconditional acceptance of a servant, and the loving commitment of a child. It participates in the “Yes” of the Son become servant and the Fiat of God’s lowly handmaid.(Catechism of the Catholic Church)
We need to train our selves to react compassionately and mercifully to all ailments…whether within ourselves, others, or society at large. We need to see what we now try to avert our eyes from as merely a symptom, a calling for further healing. The world shows us of its need for God (and for us) in the most undesirable ways. This way of attentiveness that we are encouraged to participate with the world in, needs to begin with ourselves.
How do you view the various symptoms that you experience within your own body? Society and much of the medical industry tries to tell us each of our symptoms are a separate ‘disease’ and needs to be treated as such, with a separate medical specialist, and drug.
But what if I were to propose to you that much of what we suffer from are merely symptoms, a calling to attentiveness, to bring us back to how we were created to function. Yes, I know that many suffer with debilitating illnesses that go beyond the scope of what I’m covering here. This is not what I’m referring to. My aim here is to bring the average person back to trusting their own body and their Creator and then actively participating in their own healing via obedience.
So today’s challenge is.
Be attentive to what your body is trying to tell you. Keeping a journal is a great way to start on this path. Make a list of your symptoms, what are some things that you would change if you could. Then ask the Lord to show you what needs to be done.