2 Corinthians Commentary

COMFORT THY NEIGHBOR

BY DR. JOHN ARMITAGE

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we are ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-5

By giving blood, a Christian can actively share comfort with neighbors, friends, and relatives who are struggling to recovery from illness, injury, surgery, childbirth and other medical difficulties. As Paul instructs, this sharing of mutual support is an affirming, fundamental characteristic of our faith.

Physical Relief – Red Blood Cells (“RBCs”) provide oxygen transport that can resolve anemia symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, etc. Platelets promote blood clotting and relieve excessive bruising and bleeding, including of the gums and at i.v. insertion sites that often accompany aggressive chemotherapy.

Psychic Relief – Transfusion care can lessen patient and family anxieties about bleeding, heart attack, stroke, or other condition specific risks. RBCs can also restore thinking capacity, skin coloring, and other signs of health.

Spiritual Relief – Blood, either directly or as supportive treatment, offers sustaining hopes for cure, reenergizing uplift of “good days,” and tangible evidence of a strangers’ compassion and assistance.