Dr (Sr) Mudita Menona Sodder RSCJ
On 28th August 2025, I suddenly began experiencing pain in the right hand which has lymphedema. By afternoon the pain increased, and I could not use my right hand at all. I panicked, not because of dying or getting paralysed, but because of a talk I had to give to a secular group on 30th Aug. I wanted to keep my commitment. I immediately got ‘Dukh Daba-v Lep’ and got someone to apply it for me, as I was alone in the community that day. Pleading with the Almighty to help me keep my commitment, I went to bed. Next day my hand was better and I was, as fit as a fiddle on 30th Aug. Deo gracias! On deeper introspection, I realised that physical pain is a great blessing. It serves as a vital protective mechanism, alerting the body to harm, and preventing further injury. Yes, I was not being kind to my body, which is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
St Benedict advocated the motto ‘Ora et Labora’- Pray and Work. Body, mind and soul have to be cared for and nurtured appropriately. In conscience, I know that I take good care of my soul and mind. As a religious nun, time for daily meditation, prayer, the Eucharist, spiritual reading, triduum, 8-day retreat, silence et al, are all well safe-guarded. As a voracious reader, I grab every opportunity to learn something new, and go out of my way to share my knowledge with others pampering my brain which is always super active and alive.
However, with sincerity and integrity, I humbly admit that I have neglected my body. Giving into gluttony, junk food, putting on weight, burning the candle on both ends to satisfy my intellectual acumen and feed my tastebuds! Exercise and good nutritious food have been last, on my daily to-do-list. When I was transferred to Patna and was teaching at St Xavier’s College of Management and Technology in Bihar, I further tilted the equilibrium, as co-ordinator of three departments-Sociology, English Proficiency Classes and Environmental Studies, giving talks, workshops, judging competitions, being the Chief Guest/Guest of Honour, organising extra-curricular activities in college and in the Parish, visiting the sick and old, to give communion and much more! Being a very conscientious person by temperament, I was very faithful to time for prayer and ministry. The only thing I could cut into was my time for sleep, exercise and health. The result was Total Knee Replacements in both knees, double cancer, fractures etc.
Miraculously surviving all these and many more health issues, on 28th Aug 2025 the clarion call was loud and clear- DO OR DIE! Today I know, in the depth of my being, that caring for the body is prayer, eating the right type and quantity of food is also prayer. Exercising, massaging my numb feet and hands daily, especially the right hand with lymphedema is my bounden duty to the Holy Spirit who resides in my Body. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind (Lk10: 27).” This awareness hit me hard, and shook me out of my complacency. Abusing my fragile body relentlessly is a sin, amounting to slow suicide.
After surviving double cancer, I decided not to cut down on sleep, not to accept more work than I can manage, and care more lovingly for my body. I often fail in body, mind and soul balance, but pick myself up each time, with greater determination. My prayer each day is, “Lord please help me to heal myself to wholeness. Make me a co-creator helping You build Your Kingdom here on earth, only if that be Your Holy Will.”
Religious women and men, usually do not prioritize the need to care for the body. Prayer and ministry tend to over shadow all else. We do not realise, that we are human beings first. Health is wealth which will enable us to serve the Lord better and longer in His vineyard, not becoming a burden to others. On deeper reflection, I noted that with patriarchal structures, women in general, tend to neglect their health, as they are busy caring for their spouse, children, or in-laws.
The August pain was indeed a big blessing for me! It promoted personal growth, fostered resilience, wisdom and self-discovery; challenging and prompting me to introspect. It also helped me to cultivate empathy, strengthen connections with others through shared human experiences, and thus deepened my appreciation for life. May a holistic approach to health, recognizing the balance of physical vitality, mental clarity and spiritual contentment, which in turn leads to overall harmony and improved health, be the gift and grace of the Holy Spirit to each of us.