Let’s be honest. Who actually remembers the responsorial psalm when walking out of Mass? I know I tend to forget the response halfway through the psalm itself, let alone remember what was sung or proclaimed.
Today’s responsorial psalm hit me like a ton of bricks – but in the best possible way.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.”
It’s the reality of this statement that hit me, not that I would consider myself brokenhearted though. Over this past year or so, there have been a number of challenges that left me in a spiritual “desert.” However, the Lord has used these difficulties to remind me of His mercy and love. He has been faithful to me in all the storms, invited me to return to Him, even when I haven’t been the most faithful.
Contrary to society’s popular belief, God is not a puppet master who decides to inflict pain on his subjects at will. He does not delight in our suffering. Rather, He uses times of struggle to gently draw us closer to Him. Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.”
I cried out to the Lord about youth ministry struggles, saying “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” and He delivered a boost of confidence in my ability to minister and also answered a very particular prayer of mine. God used even more youth ministry struggles to instead feed a very fruitful and blessed retreat weekend.
That should have been enough to convince me of His goodness but apparently, my fragile heart needed a little more convincing. When all seemed lost and I was braced for loss, despair, and desolation, God showed His healing hand and worked a miracle. He is still working miracles in my life to this day, small miracles but miracles nonetheless.
Through each of those experiences (and more), the Lord has awoken a deeper desire for prayer, the Mass, adoration. He brought me to my knees and I have never felt closer to Him than in the depths of the valley.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, if today you find yourself broken-hearted, do not despair! I invite you to close your eyes and picture this image.
A son or daughter in their Father’s lap. Head nestled up against His chest. Every beat of His Heart ringing out, “I love you. I love you. I love you” until you believe it with every beat of your heart. Listen as He draws you closer, secure in His ever-loving arms.
Erin is a Parma Heights, Ohio, native and a 2016 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville. She uses her communication arts degree in a couple of different ways: first, as an Athletic Communications Assistant at Baldwin Wallace University and, secondly, as a youth minister at her home parish of Holy Family Church. Although both of her jobs are on complete opposite spectrums, she truly enjoys being able to span the realm of communications. You can follow her on multiple Twitter accounts – @erinmadden2016 (personal), @bwathletics (work) and @HFVision (youth ministry).
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