Page 110 - spiritual_accompaniment_montreal_archdiocese

HOMILIES

From whatever you are suffering today, share it with the Lord. The Lord truly draws closer
to us when we are beset by suffering. He willingly suffered and embraced suffering so
as to accompany us in our fears and suffering. He could have ignored his own pain. He could
have said that it does not matter. He could have said that the resurrection will make this just
a passing matter. No, suffering is real; suffering is part of our heart and soul, our body and spirit.
The suffering we’re experiencing is real and it’s affecting us. We are suffering now, in one way
or another. And Jesus comes and holds us close throughout our suffering.

But at the same time, suffering does not have the final word. When beleaguered by suffering,
it feels as if suffering will have the final word. When we live in uncertainty, we feel as if insec-
urity will have the final word. When we are confronted with death, we feel as if death will have
the final word. But when we are suffering, vulnerable, confronted with sickness and death,
does suffering, disease or death have the final word? Jesus Christ, through his power and his
resurrection, came to demonstrate, proclaim and reveal that this is not so, because life itself
will have the final word. Suffering is part of human life, but life, everlasting life is the final
word, will have and has the final word. Love! Love between us, love shared within the family,
love expressed as solidarity with others, this love will have the final word!

Suffering afflicts us in many different ways. Think of hockey, where there is almost always
someone on the team who gets hurt! The important thing is that not everyone gets hurt at the
same time. That is why hockey players must support each other. The injured person carries
the burden of injury, and the person who is not injured must help to carry the team.

Now, this becomes the question: in these difficult times, when suffering seems so prevalent,
how can we move forward in solidarity, both as a society and as families? Solidarity is always
part of living, but the situation in which we are now living calls us to go further, even much
further. Although we are in physical-distancing mode, more than ever, we need to be together
in another way rather than “as it used to be,” as people say today.

Life has not stopped! Physical distancing is indispensable, and now it is of the utmost im-
portance. We must respect the confinement measures. Doing so is a form of social solidarity.
Out of solidarity, we respect the physical distancing and other confinement and quaran-
tine regulations that we are asked to follow. But life does not end with these measures! Life
continues in a different way. How will we maintain personal relationships with one another?
How will we continue to be united? Well, pick up the phone and call those you know. Call
someone each day. Call at least one person every day. If you know someone who is alone or
if you are alone yourself, make sure to reach out. If you are familiar with social media, use it;
many are doing so. Listen to the radio! Radio is accessible 24/7; it’s a very familiar means of

(cont’d)

Collection of texts by the Most Rev. Christian Lépine 110