Weekly Catholic Bible Study

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 711: God is Close to the Broken Hearted: A Reflection on Psalm 34 (Psalm 34 : 17-23)

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R. (19a) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD confronts the evildoers ,to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
He watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken. The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

 

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” That was our Responsorial Psalm today. And if we look in the gospels, we see this is very true. Jesus, in his compassion, extends himself to those who are grieving, even when they don’t directly ask him for anything.

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One passage that leaps to mind is when Jesus catches sight of a crowd carrying the corpse of a young man out of a house with his widowed mother weeping behind him. Nobody ASKED Jesus to intervene, still, Jesus approaches, touches the litter being used to carry the dead man, and brings him back to life.

After Jesus’ own death on the cross, he appears to Mary Magdalene while she’s grieving at Jesus’ tomb. He appears to Thomas when he doubts. When Peter is confused and says, “I’m going fishing,” and the others accompany him, Jesus appears again. When two disciples in fear, decide it’s time to high tail it out of Jerusalem and head for Emmaus, Jesus appears to them.

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The Lord IS close to the brokenhearted. But why then? A couple reasons I think. The first I already said, Jesus is often motivated by his empathy for us. The second, is that when we’re brokenhearted, our prayers get really, really honest.'

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I often say in funeral homilies, “maybe you’re mad at God right now. “If you need to be mad at God right now, it’s OK, be mad. “God is a big boy. Trust me, he can take it. But talk to him about your feelings, ESPECIALLY the angry ones.”

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And I say that, because the angry prayers are the most honest with God we’ll ever get! I know in the past when I’ve done that, when I’ve gotten angry in prayer, that’s when I feel the greatest consolation from God. God respects honesty. Right now my mom is starting to feel the effects of my dad’s death. Now that the busy-ness of the funeral is done, now that people have stopped coming to house to visit and everything is quiet, it’s setting in.

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My mom said to me on my day off this week, “I keep looking at his chair and he’s not there. I miss hearing his cane coming down the hall. “I look for him on the porch and it’s empty.” Strangely though, I can’t grieve. I haven’t shed one tear for my father, because I know he was a good man. I’m confident in his salvation. I know I’ll see him again. And I’m happy he’s no longer suffering. People have told me it hasn’t hit me yet. Maybe that’s so.

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But what makes ME brokenhearted, is when I check in on former students I had in Catholic school, now in college, and I see their Facebook status change from “Roman Catholic,” to atheist, or agnostic, or no affiliation. THAT breaks my heart.

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When so many people work so hard to try to make this parish work, and others have to diminish it by starting silly rumors, suggesting ulterior motives, THAT breaks my heart. When I look at the world of politics and see NOTHING but nastiness! People can’t even have a civil conversation about issues anymore without it turning in a name-calling contest. THAT breaks my heart.

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And so this is what we need to take to prayer. The things that break our hearts. Because that’s where the Lord will be closest to us.

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by Father Michael Sisco

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Prayer: “God, I surrender my broken heart to you. I need you more than ever, Lord. Give me the strength to rely on you during this time. Only you God can heal my broken heart, and only you can show me the life I am supposed to live. Thank you for giving me the strength and desire to spend more time with you. Help give me the passion and desire to sit with you and read your word as you heal my broken heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him.” – St. John of the Cross

 

Questions for reflection:

1. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” Have you ever felt God’s closeness when you have been brokenhearted? In what ways has He comforted you?

2. Do you feel that your prayers are more honest when you feel brokenhearted? Why might they be more honest at such times?

3. Have you taken your big feelings to God? Have you ever prayed angry prayers? Do you believe that God can handle your prayers even if they are angry?

4. Has anyone in your life left the Church to become atheist or agnostic? How did you feel? How do you think God feels?

5. Where have you seen Catholics resort to name calling and nastiness instead of having a civil conversation? Have you ever done that? What can you do to prevent yourself from falling into this trap?

6. What does a civil political discussion look like? How do you have a conversation with someone who has a different political outlook than you? How do you think Christ would have such a conversation?

7. Have you encountered situations in your parish or local Catholic community where people start rumors or suggest ulterior motives that disrupts the unity of the community?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP