Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted.

Dear friends on the journey,

As I was preparing for this weekend’s message, today’s Psalm really spoke to me because, as I write this, I am feeling brokenhearted for so many reasons. The new year began with so much illness. Covid, the flu, and all the normal seasonal sickness has been compounded by the news from people I care about who received cancer and other diagnoses. Friends are facing surgeries and long recoveries. Children around our county have lost a parent in traumatic deaths. Parishioners are grieving the loss of spouses. My beloved high school, La Reina, is closing its doors after 60+ years of educating and forming young Catholic women in Ventura County. Broken relationships, poverty, isolation, mental health issues, chronic pain, and spiritual desolation abound. It’s only the fourth week of January and heartbreak and sadness surround me.

But then God, per usual, taps my shoulder and offers me light in the darkness. Psalm 147: 1-6 reminds us to praise and worship our good and gracious God who will always rebuild what is broken, heal the heartbroken, bind our wounds, sustain us, and cast out the wicked. As people of faith, we are by no means exempt from suffering and heartbreak but we have these words as God’s promise to always be with us in that suffering. The Israelites received these promises through the prophets. Jesus lived these promises while on earth. And they are God’s promises to us now. They bring me comfort and hope that the sadness will not persist, that light and peace will return, that pain will lessen, and good will triumph. The Paschal Mystery of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection that we celebrate at every Mass is a reminder of God’s promises.
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I’ve shared here before the story of the little girl who tells her mom that she wants “Jesus with skin” meaning she needs her mom to be Jesus and hold her tight. Don’t we all want to feel Jesus’ embrace? If you need a Jesus hug today, don’t be afraid to ask for one. Padre Serra’s a very “huggy” place! If you know some in need, reach out to offer a hug, a shoulder, a hand for holding. Loving human touch may not subside the pain completely but it can be just the right balm in a moment between friends.

This week I invite you to pray with Psalm 147. Call to mind your own heartbreak, current or in the past. Offer gratitude for the wounds that have healed or are still in process. Ask God not to let your suffering be wasted but rather be put to good use, to help others. Consider that neighbors, coworkers and friends may be living with heartbreak right now and simply pray for them. Then give praise to God who continually heals the brokenhearted and offers hope.


Siempre Adelante,


Teresa Runyon
Pastoral Associate 

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