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Introduction: Dedication, Unity, and Perseverance
Greetings to Father Remigius, hospital Chaplain and to the Director
of Pastoral Care, Nancy Anderson, Jay Cooke the health care staff
, patients and to Hope Regan representing the hospital. I appreciate
the importance of Bridgeport Hospital for the community and for
the patients you serve day in and day out in his very busy hospital.
I also appreciate, at least to some, degree, the challenges you
face in providing excellent health care in today's environment.
You know those challenges better than I. Among them is the increasing
need we see in our community in these economically difficult times
and the chronic under-reimbursement for services rendered, not
to mention the litigious situation in which we all operate. Nonetheless,
you are very dedicated to your work, united in the cause of providing
good health care and persevering in the face of difficulty.
Simon and Jude: Dedication, Unity and Perseverance
So it seems I came on the right day because our saints, the apostles
Simon and Jude exemplify those same qualities: these apostles
were men of dedication, unity, and perseverance. Let me briefly
explain what I mean.
Simon is sometimes called the Canaanite and sometimes called
the Zealot. Both names actually mean the same thing - to be passionate
about a cause. In the Hebrew language, "qanà" means to
be zealous. Simon was zealous for the law of Moses and destiny
of God's chosen people and Jesus would employ his passion for
the Gospel … just as the Lord employs your passion for medicine
for the sake of his people or your dedication to your families
for the good of your spouses and children.
The Lord also knew how to put together a diverse team. There
couldn't have been two different people than Matthew and Simon.
Matthew worked for the Romans who had conquered the Jewish people;
he was, after all, a tax collector! Simon was working to overthrow
the Romans! But here they are working together on the Lord's team.
And it seems we all work on teams that include a lot of differences
- some of it enriching, some of it can be frustrating - but somehow,
we have to work together for the common good.
And Jude was the one who asked the Lord at the Last Supper how
it was that the Lord showed who he was to his followers but not
to the world - why didn't Jesus just force people to follow him?
Jesus answered that if a person keeps his word - is open to his
truth - then he and the Father would come to live in that person.
Jude's question helps us realize that we need a mind and heart
open to the Lord's truth and love to experience his friendship.
And finally, a short letter in the NT is attributed to Jude and
in it he speaks about persevering in belief even when it's tough.
For that reason, St. Jude has been dubbed as the patron of hopeless
causes. And all of us can think of some really intractable problems
we face and in this hospital you meet people each day with such
problems. Jude teaches us to pray earnestly and to hope against
hope, trusting that God brings good even out of situations that
seem so dire.
Conclusion
Once again, I thank you for your service to our community and
for your dedication to health care, to teamwork, and to perseverance
in the face of many challenges.
I commend you and your work to the prayers of Saints Simon and
Jude, apostles upon whom the Church was founded. From their place
in heaven they guide us still!
May God bless and keep you in His love.
Return to the Writings of Bishop
Lori
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