Ruminations of an Irascible Hermit.: Don’t run from your Shepherd, allow him to heal and love you

Monday, September 25, 2023

Don’t run from your Shepherd, allow him to heal and love you

For those who may not know, I’ve been unwell past week and half with bronchitis and asthma issues. On Friday I got taken to emergency by ambulance because I couldn’t breathe and they suspected pneumonia. In the ER that day I honestly thought I was dying, and told Jesus he can take me and I’m ready to go because I love him. But as the priest who gave me the Sacraments of Confession, Anointing of the Sick and Apostolic Pardon said to me: “I don’t think you are going anywhere yet, the Lord still has plans for you”.

Thankfully I don’t have pneumonia, but I have a viral infection from Rhinovurus,that turned into bacterial infection, plus bronchitis and asthma. So I’m still in hospital and having to humbly learn to heal, be patient, allow myself time to heal physically as well as emotionally and spiritually. I will probably be here at least another day or so.

I’ve been so blessed by God already these 3 days in hospital so far. My parish priest visited me, my Coptic Abouna visited me and brought me orban (blessed agape bread) and gave me Coptic Anointing of the Sick, my mum has been everyday, my parish priest brought me Holy Communion yesterday and I cried. Today my spiritual director is coming to visit me and offered to bring me Holy Communion. I have a picture of St Tius in my room and I’ve been evangelising the nurses who ask about my miraculous medal or see my breviary, I tell them that I’m a Bogan hermit who’s a crackhead for Jesus 😂. St Titus has been teaching me to suffer honestly, but also with humor, and he is keeping me close to Jesus by reminding me to embrace my weakness and sufferings fully.

This morning during the Office of Readings, this passage from Ezekiel and the commentary from St Augustine really hit me. My parish priest yesterday had a long chat to me and told me I have to stop pretending to be strong and in control and to allow God to heal me and let go. Then these two quotes really spoke to my heart as a verification of that. I’m a wounded stray sheep, and I can’t run away or hide, I have to call for help and trust in the Good Shepherd who loves me and searches after me, who will heal me and make me whole even in my brokenness.

I hope this helps you in where ever you are at today in your life, may it bring you comfort and hope. We are all stray sheep, but we are loved and able to be healed if we trust. But we need to not run away or hide, together we can all help eachother stay close to our Beloved Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Peter 2:25).

4 comments:

AnonymousSeptember 25, 2023 at 10:21 AM
Thank you for sharing your pain and God’s search for His sheep and healing the wounded and bringing back the stray. Get well soon
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousSeptember 25, 2023 at 5:49 PM
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Reminded me of you
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousSeptember 26, 2023 at 12:11 PM
May the Lord, the healer of our souls, bodies, and spirits, heal us all and see us through His merciful eyes. God bless you Brother.
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousSeptember 26, 2023 at 12:12 PM
Abouna Abram
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Disclaimer

Please note. I am a Catholic layman, not a qualified theologian or philosopher. What I say and write here are my own personal thoughts and ideas, although I always try to conform my writings to the Magisterium of the Church.

I- with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal Magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic Magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.