“Bearing the pain of the other”
One of the oldest and most common questions in theology is what we call “theodicy”: Why does a good God allow bad things to happen, especially to good people? I’m sure that we ourselves have asked this question either concerning something in our own lives or the lives of our loved ones, family, and friends.
We are reminded of this especially on 11 February, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of the Sick. The theme for 2026, chosen by Pope Leo XIV, is: “The compassion of the Samaritan: loving by bearing the pain of the other.”
Illness, especially chronic illness, is especially difficult to both bear and accept. How can anything good come out of such pain? How can we press on when it takes everything we have both physically and mentally to move forward just one step? What’s the point of praying, hoping and waiting when nothing seems to happen?
The Letter of St. James reminds us that the trials and tribulations we experience are, in a mysterious way, a gift from God: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (Jas 1:2-4).
Our God, who truly is good, allows everything to happen for a purpose and that purpose is always for some sort of spiritual good. Jesus Himself suffered in His Passion but that suffering and pain brought about the greatest good of all: Our salvation.
The Lord invites us to pick up our crosses and follow Him so that we too may participate in His work of the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls. Our sufferings, big or small, serve as a prayer and are vehicles and instruments for the outpouring of grace into this world.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that we stop praying for healing. God hears our prayers and often physical healings do occur. I have seen them first hand and they are truly miraculous and a cause for joy and praise! But just because our prayers for physical healing go unanswered sometimes doesn’t mean that Lord is ignoring us or deems us unworthy. Not at all!
In fact, He is inviting us to live out our Christian vocation: To follow the Lord, to imitate the Lord, even in His sufferings and pain. Just as Jesus’ suffering saved souls, our sufferings, if we offer them in union with His, can do the same; we too can save souls and save our own as well.
The priests, staff and members of the Divine Mercy Apostolate pray for you and your intentions every day. During this month of February, we invite you to send your intentions to us, especially the names of those who suffer from any sort of disease or illness, whether it be physical, mental or even spiritual. We will remember them in our prayers and Chaplets of Divine Mercy throughout the month and will also offer a special Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes for your intentions as well.
Even if those we pray for are not healed physically, we can be assured that God is still pouring out His grace and love upon them and upon us. God loves us and He wants us to flourish and to be joyful, even in the midst of suffering. Perhaps that’s the hardest thing of all, finding joy and meaning and happiness in the midst of suffering, pain and confusion.
But with God’s help, His grace and His love, it is possible! And through Him we find victory over all the pain, suffering and darkness in our lives not by avoiding them but by walking through them, guided by the gentle hand of our Blessed Mother and strengthened by prayer and grace.
We ask our Blessed Mother to be with us and help us, using the words of St. Bernadette Soubirous: “O my Mother, in your heart I place all the anguish of my heart and it is there that I gain strength and courage.” And Mary, who is our loving mother, will hear us and be with us, helping us to move forward, one step at a time.
May God bless you now and always!
In Jesus and Mary,
Fr. Alex Pumphrey, MIC
Contact Father Alex Pumphrey, MIC at info@divinemercy.org.uk
Please send us your prayer intentions! (click here).
We will place them at the foot of our altar in the Divine Mercy Apostolate’s Chapel here in West Ealing, London and will remember them in our daily Chaplets of Divine Mercy.
