the wounded healer

Sep 22, 2021

.

I discovered the writings of Henri Nouwen as a seminarian. I was attracted to his practical style, grounded in messy human reality and rich with hope breaking through imperfection and sin, an environment that I was and still am very familiar with.

The fact that Nouwen was a diocesan priest was especially inspiring for me as one in formation for diocesan priesthood.

While I was inspired by Henri Nouwen’s classic work “The Wounded Healer” I realise that back then I had little idea of the significance of what he was sharing.

Last week on a visit to a friend who has had more than his share of suffering we got into conversation about human need, wounded-ness and healing. I shared with him a difficult situation that I had been called on to help with.

My friend was concerned that I would simply charge in, do the priestly thing, and leave, which prompted him to caution me to take time to build relationship.

He summed his caution up in a sentence which has changed my life:

“John, you can’t help someone out, unless you understand why they are in.”

I was deeply moved, and his words will stay with me forever:

“You can’t help someone out, unless you understand why they are in.”

I’m writing this reflection the evening before you will read it, twenty-five years to the day since Henri Nouwen’s sudden death.

Here’s a story that Henri uses in “The Wounded Healer” and which I will take to my friend when I see him again later this week.

“One day a young fugitive, trying to hide himself from the enemy, entered a small village. The people were kind to him and offered him a place to stay. But when the soldiers who sought the fugitive asked where he was hiding, everyone became very fearful. The soldiers threatened to burn the village and kill every man in it unless the young man were handed over to them before dawn. The people went to the minister and asked him what to do. The minister, torn between handing over the boy to the enemy or having his people killed, withdrew to his room and read his Bible, hoping to find an answer before dawn. After many hours, in the early morning his eyes fell on these words: “It is better that one man dies than that the whole people be lost.” Then the minister closed the Bible, called the soldiers and told them where the boy was hidden. And after the soldiers led the fugitive away to be killed, there was a feast in the village because the minister had saved the lives of the people. But the minister did not celebrate. Overcome with a deep sadness, he remained in his room. That night an angel came to him, and asked, “What have you done?” He said: “I handed over the fugitive to the enemy.” Then the angel said: “But don’t you know that you have handed over the Messiah?” “How could I know?” the minister replied anxiously. Then the angel said: “If, instead of reading your Bible, you had visited this young man just once and looked into his eyes, you would have known.”

+++

Click on the image below to hear this week’s Homily Studio,
a conversation focussing on the readings of Sunday 26 September 2021

6 Comments

  1. Woweeee. To stop and look into the eyes!

    Not sure about you, but this ‘masked time’ sharpens my focus on the ‘eyes’ ….

    Reply
  2. I am going to play devil’s advocate here. Or perhaps stirrer.
    Could this young man have been the Messiah? The Messiah would not ask these people to sacrifice themselves and their village to save him, he would have given his life voluntarily to save them.

    Reply
    • Agreed

      Reply
  3. Of all the beautiful, meaningful reflections we’ve had, I don’t think I’ve ever been ‘stopped short’ quite so profoundly! And the comment about the masks simply emphasised it! To see, be alongside and to listen!!!

    Reply
  4. Thanks for quoting me. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Knowing that you would have had the inclination to claim it as your own. I believe you have a great sensibility and clarity of thought that brings to our lives an uplifting sensation. I being a wounded soldier am very glad that the church produces adequate doctors, in order to help us on our journey back to the sanctuary of that which God is.

    Reply
    • If only he had looked into
      His eyes,that was so sad
      To read,teach me to look into the eyes of others always,
      Before speaking- deciding’
      Thankyou Fr John

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts

Assumption

Assumption

Humans too often make the fatal mistake of separating body and soul, yet our deep desire is for unity of body and soul.

ahead of grace ?

ahead of grace ?

Both readings are personal favourites and every time I hear them and ponder them these texts speak to me in new and powerful ways.

Mary MacKillop

Mary MacKillop

Too often we settle for an existence of lurching from one satisfaction to the next.

an inner peak

an inner peak

I know a few people, including several Food For Faith followers, who are nearing death. Some of these are elderly and accepting that their life on earth is naturally coming to an end. Others, well before their time, are struggling with poor health and living with diagnoses of terminal illness.

Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius of Loyola

Feelings that are uppermost in human consciousness are simply a starting point for discernment.