Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Today's Readings

Psalm 18:7

The Responsorial Psalm today is: “In my distress I called upon the Lord and He heard my voice.” As I read these words that I have so often read before, I also read them out loud and I reflected on them with a new perspective.

Distress…this word can have so many meanings. Initially, there is the tendency for me to think of an emergency situation since I am a nurse. Something physical is suddenly wrong, such as “respiratory distress.” However, distress can be holistic…involving emotional, mental and spiritual aspects.

Here we are one week away from Good Friday, the day that we remember the suffering of Jesus as he died on the cross. His death was the ultimate physical distress with unimaginable torture, even after carrying his own heavy cross through the streets. We always hear the words that Jesus suffered and died for us, that was part of His human experience. In the midst of His agony, Jesus called upon the Lord, His Father: “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” Jesus thought he was abandoned in that moment,
but He was still teaching His followers and us to call upon the Lord…He will hear our voices.

Since we are human beings, we are complex and sometimes complicated. We have the capacity for the strength of steel yet we are as fragile as treasured heirloom crystal. There is a song called “Fragile” by a famous musician, Sting (his given name is Gordon Sumner). Here are some of the lyrics:

On and on the rain will fall 

Like tears from a star, like tears from a star 

On and on the rain will say 

How fragile we are, how fragile we are

When we are faced with challenges, difficult people, frustration, evil, injustice, exclusion, betrayal, disappointment, or hurt we can call upon the Lord in our fragile state of distress. Let me add that we can call upon the whole support of God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Mary. Remember that Mary wept at the feet of Jesus in her tremendous grief as she witnessed the death of her Son. Mary can help us settle our hearts when we are struggling. Our voices will be heard, and we will be carried in our distress if we trust in God and keep the faith.

Elizabeth Giugliano, RN

Manager of Student Health Services