I have some good friends in Canada who have a daughter who at an early age developed hearing problems.

After many surgeries, unfortunately, Becky lost her hearing completely. Becky has gone on to University, and is married, with two children, and has an interesting job at a museum. I remember once her mother telling me that Becky has a Handicapped parking sticker for her car. This is taken very seriously in Ontario, and there is a fine of $300.00 for parking in a Handicapped parking space without the authorized sticker. Her daughter has been challenged a few times my people who saw her park her car in the designated space because she had no visible handicap or impediment. She explained to them the danger of passing through large and busy parking areas without the ability to hear the vehicles. I thought of Becky when I first read the gospel earlier this week (Mark 1:40-45), because in it we see Jesus healing a leper. Whereas Beckys handicap is not visible to the eye, such is not the case with lepers. It is a very visible ailment, with the loss of limbs and body parts due to the leprosy. Today, with treatment by antibiotics some of this disfiguring factor has been eliminated. The First Reading from the Book of Leviticus (13:1-2, 44-46) describes how lepers in the time of Jesus were isolated from the community, and even from their families. In some ways their life was over, as there was no cure and their lives would be of further disfigurement and pain. In the gospel Jesus touched the leper who came to him for healing, something that was forbidden. Jesus knew that, but it did not keep him from reaching out and touching him, and thus bringing him healing. The life of the leper changed completely from that moment on, and so he went about witnessing to others what Jesus had done. As I reflected on the gospel I could not help but think that probably many of us feel in need of healing, or relief from discomfort or pain especially as we get older. Yet like my friend, Becky our need is not apparent to the human eye. Someone looking at us has no idea of our physical condition and our need for Gods healing grace. Sometimes, because of this, we also hesitate to think of ourselves as people in need of Gods healing grace. We might be reluctant to speak up in prayer as did the leper in the gospel and ask God to touch us, to touch us with his healing grace. If and when we do that we can see how God does touch us, and how he can bring us healing in the way he most sees fit. It may not be in a physical way, but it may be greater peace, or acceptance of our condition, or hope and gratitude. Gods healing grace may take a form that we do not expect, and we open ourselves up to that mysterious work of God when we say . If you wish, you can make me clean. Today/Saturday was the World Day of the Sick. And so, as has been the custom at St. Patricks for some time, this weekend we will celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. This is an opportunity in which people of our congregation reach out and ask the Lord to touch them with his healing grace. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a beautiful Sacrament of the Church, but one that is still greatly

misunderstood. This misunderstanding prevents some people from saying to the Lord, If you wish, you can make me clean. There are still three misconceptions about this Sacrament, associated with the name of the Sacrament before the Second Vatican Council in 1965 Extreme Unction the final blessing. The first misconception is that it is for the dying. Sometimes people do not ask for the Sacrament for themselves or for a family member because they think they are not sick enough. It is FOR THE SICK. It should be given early in a sickness, or before surgery, or when one suffers from a chronic condition. For people of all ages, after First Eucharist, this Sacrament is an opportunity to open themselves to ask God to touch them, and to accompany them in their pain and suffering, as well as in the fear and uncertainty that illness can often bring. Some still think of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick as only for the forgiveness of sin, when in reality it is to ask God for HEALING, for relief from pain and discomfort, trusting that God in his mercy will reach out and touch each person in a personal and unique way bringing physical and spiritual graces to live in union with him. The anointing takes place on the forehead and on the palms of the hands with the Oil of the Sick, blessed by our Bishop at the Chrism Mass. The third misconception is that the Sacrament should be a private matter between the priest and the person to be anointed. The Sacrament should rightly be celebrated IN COMMUNITY as we are doing today. Often when I am asked to anoint someone in hospital or in their residence I ask them When can you be there?, and they are often surprised that I want them to be present and to join in the celebration, even joining me in laying on hands in silence to pray for Gods blessing. It is often a touching experience for the family to share that special moment before God with their loved one who is in need of Gods healing grace. Tomorrow/Today we will celebrate/have celebrated the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. It is an opportunity for the Parish Community to accompany and pray for the sick among us. Just as we pray for the sick in the Prayer of the Faithful, we know that there are many others who are sick, homebound and in need of our prayers and friendship. Let us pray tonight/today that this Sacrament of life and grace will encourage us to speak up to the Lord, like the leper in the gospel, and ask him to touch us in our need whatever that may be and that we may be prepared to receive his grace and blessing as he sees fit.