"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream;
it fears not the heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit."
This piece from Jeremiah was part of the first reading at today's mass.
What a fitting text for today. Nicole places her faith and trust in the LORD.
The workings of the LORD via the chemo drugs show the glory of God. God gives man intelligence and the drive to develop new medical drugs to fight diseases. Dr Wong was very glad to note that Nicole's health improvement was indeed remarkable. She did mention when Nicole started her chemo treatment that we need God's intervention for the chemo drugs to be effective. These drugs had a 60% probability of working.
The reading of the Gospel at today's mass was the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The lesson is not that those who are rich cannot get into heaven. The teaching is about compassion. It is his lack of compassion that got the rich man into trouble. Compassion - a sentiment that I lack as Nicole keeps reminding me. Her illness is teaching me to learn about compassion.
The other teaching of today's reading is that one should not expect extra ordinary events to believe in God! No point sending back Lazarus to tell the rich man's brothers about God. The same applies to us. Jesus has taught us all that is needed to believe in Him, in God the Father and in the Holy Spirit.
These are new lessons for me from this text, a text that I have heard so many times at mass.
I ask you to pray for us, to pray in family for your family, for all the relatives, friends, acquaintances, for the Pope and our Bishop, Cardinal Margeot, the priests and the leaders of our country.
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