The Lord is Close to the Brokenhearted

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Wisdom: 2:1A, 12-22
Psalm 34
John 7: 1-2, 10,25-30

We can find wisdom and consolation in the Psalm Response today. It is “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” So many feel lost and brokenhearted these days. A few days ago, I had the privilege of standing at the bedside of one of our parishioners who had died during the night. His wife and I stood at his side, we prayed together, she received communion, and we just sat together for a while in the broken heartedness that enveloped the room. 

Even as all the world has changed, some things remain the same. People die, are married, become ill, receive a frightening medical diagnosis, babies are born, and people celebrate birthdays, ordinations, and graduations. 
But each of those events, happy or sad are shrouded with being brokenhearted. Each of those life milestones is being celebrated alone or with very few people present. The isolation of this time gives birth to a broken heart.

Today’s Psalm follows, please pause before you read it and call to mind those you know who are feeling isolated and alone at this time. Place them in the arms of our loving God and pray. 

Responsorial Psalm 34

R. 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.

And now the concrete action we can all take today. Make a CALL to someone you think may be suffering loneliness at this time. Don’t send an email or a text. MAKE A CALLl! Your voice will soothe a broken heart in a way an email or a text never can. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, but only if we step up to our call to be the Lord present in our world as its people suffer.