December 16/Third Tuesday of Advent
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.” ~ Psalm 34.19
What leaves us more brokenhearted than losing someone we love? In the face of such deep loss we are disoriented, lost for words, wounded by a million shards of pain. Death changes life, changes it utterly; when the beloved person is gone, things are never the same again. We may feel that God has walked out on us; we may be angry, insisting that if God had really loved us this awful loss would not have happened. The psalmist clearly experienced this kind of pain: the Hebrew words for “broken-hearted” and “crushed in spirit” carry the force of being shattered and pulverized. But the psalmist also knew this: that our Lord does not forsake us, even and especially in times of searing, terrible hurt. God not only loves us, God longs to be close to us. Again, the Hebrew is instructive: the word for “close” is associated with the innermost parts of a human being. Amid our pain and suffering, God remains present in the depths of our hearts, those raw, grieving places deep within. No matter how much we weep or even shake our fists, the Lord abides with us. We do not walk through the valley of the shadow of death alone; He is there to comfort us as we trudge through the darkness, leading us on even when we cannot imagine that we will ever again see light. At such times, prayer is a challenge. Tears come readily; words do not. No matter: even when we are so numb with sorrow that we cannot feel His presence, God is surrounding us with love, wiping away our tears, binding up our wounds. And ever so gently, ever so gradually, He will soothe death’s sting with the saving promise of eternal life.
Lord of heaven and earth, Stay by my side as I journey through times of loss and pain, and grant me the healing comfort of your presence. Amen.
For today’s readings, click here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121625.cfm
To hear the Choir of Trinity College, Melbourne, sing “Be Still, My Soul,” click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SK6xYvNaMY&list=RD_SK6xYvNaMY&start_radio=1
