Viewpoint

In this issue of The Majellan there’s a remarkable story about Javale Morato, a young boy who survived a severe injury to the head from a wayward hammer during sports training. The family was told to expect the worse. In the doctor’s words, he had suffered a “severe traumatic brain injury”.

Teresa and Jason Morato, however, never gave up hope. They prayed and urged others to pray for their sick son in an Adelaide hospital. As Teresa said, “We are so blessed to see how many people are joining us in prayer. We were born and raised Catholics, and we do believe in miracles because that’s what’s happening to our son right now.”

They prayed for a miracle. They got a miracle.

It’s true to say Javale’s extraordinary recovery can also be attributed to modern medicine and the expertise of the surgeons but those things alone don’t always result in a good ending.

Australia, like much of the western world, has become secular with more people denying the existence of God. They have their smart phones, televisions, cars and all the mod-coms, so what else do they need? They place God in the same box as the Fairy Godmother and the Easter Bunny.

That attitude can change though if there is a major upheaval in their life. They may lose their job, be diagnosed with cancer or suffer injuries in a serious accident. Suddenly, their comfortable, closeted world is thrown into chaos. I know people including close relatives who never believed in God but found prayer when they hit rock bottom.

My parents often used to say, ‘Don’t underestimate the power of prayer’. Faith, as we have seen time and time again, can lead to amazing outcomes. It’s never too late to start praying to God.

Throughout history some of the most significant Catholic saints have been people of poor repute who turned their lives around with prayer and acceptance of God. Saint Paul of Tarsus, Saint Augustine and St Mary of Egypt spring to mind. St Paul persecuted Christians before his conversion, St Augustine had many failings, including lust, gluttony, pride and vanity while St Mary was a prostitute for many years before changing her ways.

It is uplifting when you hear about someone who has survived a terrible accident. In Javale’s case, he was on a sporting field and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. He could have died but he didn’t.

This story is not just about Javale’s brave fight but also his parent’s determination, their ‘never give up’ attitude and their absolute faith in God. The Morato family exemplify the Christian ideals of love, hope and faith.

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