Dead in 40 Days

“For God loved the world that he gave his only Son…” (Jn 3:16)

Seminarians receive many requests for prayers.  And we are humbled and thankful that we should be entrusted to serve in this way.  A while ago, one of these requests told the story of a family whose son was injured in Iraq.

He was confined to a hospital bed, many miles from home, and many months (perhaps even years) from returning to his family.  He was in a very bad condition: he couldn’t walk, he couldn’t talk, and most of the time, he slept.  But, his family loved him and would drive the many miles to see him, even though he usually didn’t respond.  His family would stay at the hospital with him, oftentimes through the night.  They would read to him, tell him about their day, and give him kisses.  This was, after all, what a loving family does for its members: it loves no matter what.  Even if that love isn’t immediately given back.

Truly, this family was sacrificing a lot to be with their son.  They had to sacrifice their time to see him; they had to probably sacrifice “more fun” things they could have been doing instead of being at a hospital; and they probably even lost a lot of sleep when they sat with him through the night.  But, that’s what love does: it sacrifices.

I sometimes think: what would I do if someone I loved got cancer and had to live at the hospital?  Would I go and see her every night, holding her hand and telling her that everything is ok?  Would I give up the evening with friends or the evening of my favorite tv show just to be with her?  Would I sacrifice?

I hope my answer would be “yes.”

After all, that’s what children do for their parents and parents for their children.  When I was a year old, my mom stayed at the hospital with me.  I was pretty sick with a virus.  All night, mom was there, telling me of her love in gentle whispers and hugs.  She could have been elsewhere, but she was with me.  She loved me.

So the question for you is: is there anyone you would do that for?  Is there anyone you would stay up through the night for, even if it made you tired, hungry, or even bored?

Of course, right now, we all have a very real opportunity to do this.  A loved one of ours is going to die in 40 days.  This loved one has not only served our country as that wounded soldier did that I mentioned above, but our loved one has served the world and each one of us personally.  More often than anyone we know, this loved one has been the one that has cared for us and stayed with us through our roughest nights, been there by our bedside, bringing us his love in gentle whispers and hugs.  This loved one is Jesus.

He has 40 days left.  He is preparing to die.

So, what will we do to help him out?  What will we sacrifice?  Will we stay up and talk with him?  Will we miss our favorite show for him?  Will we show him how much we love him by saying, “Hey, since you’re hungry and thirsty, I will also be hungry and thirsty too”?  Will we show him our love, even if it seems like we’re not getting that love back?

Lent has begun.  In 40 days, we will read about Jesus’ death.  In the meantime, what will you do to show him that you love him?

"Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn 2:18)