An eerie first reading today from Wisdom 2. It describes the things that Jesus went through to a tee. Be sure to read it and see if you don’t shake your head in amazement knowing that this was written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. The Gospel reading today is from John 7, where the people of Galilee were wondering if this Jesus could be the Christ. “When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” And Jesus lets them know that they don’t truly know where he is from; that he has come from the Father.
I’d like us to reflect today on our Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 34. The response at Mass today is from verse 19, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” Psalm 34 is a song of reassurance to those who trust in the Lord. “When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them.” But all is not peaches and cream…”Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the Lord delivers him.”
Have you ever had your heart broken? Many think of that phrase only in a romantic context. And chances are that we have all had our heart broken at one time or another. But we can be brokenhearted about many things. When a loved one is suffering, our hearts break. When our children go astray. We may have even had our hearts broken by a priest, a pastor or someone in the church. Those are often the times when God seems a million miles away. In actuality, that is when God is right there, ready to hold us, comfort us in our time of need. If your heart is broken, close your eyes and envision God giving you a big old God-hug. Go ahead and hug Him back; He likes that.
Father, we pray for those today with broken hearts. May they feel your closeness, feel your comfort, feel your intense love for them. Amen.
Thank you, Gus. Today it is eleven years since my sister Carole died, much too young, and I am broken-hearted. I needed that God-hug this morning. Thank you.