(Listen to this homily here).
One of the humbling roles I have as a priest is to walk
with people through suffering. As
someone entering an intense situation from the outside, I have often seen
clearly the truth of a powerful line in the responsorial Psalm: “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and
those who are crushed in spirit he saves.” In the heat of trauma, pain or anger it may be difficult to
see God. As a priest, I see Him
carrying these very men and women.
One
of the most powerful ways I have seen God repeatedly work is through the Lord’s
Prayer—which we had for our Gospel this morning. Almost universally this prayer draws people to comfort,
peace, tears—an opening up to God—in the midst of human suffering. This is true whether a person or family
is a faithful Mass-goer or hasn’t graced a church in decades. It is a powerful go-to prayer
especially in times of calamity—while someone is on a death bed, terminally
ill, facing mental illness, divorce, and the like.
At
Mass this morning, let’s really focus on the powerful prayer that Jesus gave us—especially
if we are suffering in any way.
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