In the Midst of Brokenness

There is an old legend about a man who was shipwrecked on a deserted island for two years. He actually did pretty well for himself. He made a home and grew a garden. He found a freshwater spring and often caught fish. One day, a boat appeared on the horizon. A small rescue boat was launched and reached his shore. The sailor got out of the boat and handed the man a stack of newspapers, and he said, “Compliments of the captain. He wants you to read these before you decide whether you really want to be rescued!”

There is indeed a lot of brokenness and heartache in the world. But our faith teaches us not to avoid suffering, not to stay on the island or somehow escape from the world. No. The Christian faith teaches us to follow Jesus who was sent right into the heart of the conflict, the poverty and the suffering of the world.

Yes, when we reach out to help others who are in great need, it often puts us at risk. Often our hearts are broken as we experience their pain. However, most of us discover God’s healing redeeming presence most profoundly – not in our escaping – but our giving.

Our prayer today was written by St. Francis of Assisi. Let us pray:

Lord make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.