March 11th, Thursday, Third Week of Lent

Jeremiah 7: 23-28, Psalm 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9, Luke 11: 14-23

This past fall, I was horrified to hear that my Grandma Chrystal was in the hospital with a severe case of pneumonia. The sickness was causing her lungs to fill with water, and the doctors told my family the fluid would have to be drained otherwise she would literally drown. My family and I were distraught, and there were countless prayers that we said for her. Thankfully, the doctors were able to drain the water from her lungs. Soon after the procedure, my whole family drove over to the hospital to see Grandma, and she did not seem herself. She was in a daze lying in the hospital bed, and we all wondered if she would ever be her normal self again. We continued to pray for her and to visit daily, and slowly but surely her condition improved. Now she is back home and in even better shape than before.

My grandma’s sickness is like the demon in the bible passage. With God’s healing touch and the love and support of her family, my grandma escaped the cold hands of death and was rid of her demon. Without the strength of her family, my grandmother would not have survived. In this way our family is like the kingdom of God; divided against one another we will all be “laid waste”, but if we have God and our family there to support us then we are stronger than ever.

Patrick Benson, graduated from St. Raymond School, oldest of five children, senior at Prospect High School.