The Broken Hearted

The Lord is close to the broken hearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. Psalm 34:18

Psalm 34 is an alphabet psalm.  Each of its 22 lines starts with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  This memory device makes it easier to remember and recite this psalm  by the believers who pray it.  It was written by King David, when he feigned madness before the Philistine king, Abimelech.  David had fled to him to be safe from King Saul who is trying to kill.  When he got to Abimelech he realized that he was still not safe and he acted like he was mad so that he would not be killed. Abimelech allowed David to take refuge in a cave along with 400 others who are described as “all those who were in difficulties or in debt, or who were embittered, and he became their leader.” (1 Samuel 22:2) Truly David was among the broken hearted and those crushed in spirit.

Jesus truly became man.  This is his incarnation.  He is truly among us and stays with us.  Just as David was among the broken hearted Christ is with us.  When we suffer Christ is with us to be our hope and to save us.

In the Catholic Catechism, we are taught:
Christ's compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that "God has visited his people" and that the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Jesus has the power not only to heal, but also to forgive sins; he has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; he is the physician the sick have need of. His compassion toward all who suffer goes so far that he identifies himself with them: "I was sick and you visited me." His preferential love for the sick has not ceased through the centuries to draw the very special attention of Christians toward all those who suffer in body and soul. It is the source of tireless efforts to comfort them. (CCC 1503)
When we suffer, Christ identifies himself with us. Christ is tireless in his efforts to comfort us.

One of the core values of Hoban High is an option for the poor. The call to do Christian service allows each student to witness and participate in the building of Christ's kingdom.  It empowers the student to be faithful to our Holy Cross tradition that calls us to "have the competence to see and the courage to act."  Thus our service must directly serve the poor and the vulnerable. We directly serve the vulnerable as witnesses that Christ is truly with us.  We become Christ’s hands to those who suffer.

What is your attitude towards your service project?  Are you doing the hours only or truly being with the crushed and broken hearted?  Do you try to learn ways not only to serve in charity but also ways to empower real changes that will help those in need? Have you volunteered for Project Hope? How do you help your fellow students that suffer?  Do you listen to them?  Encourage them to seek out the help of counselors and caring adults at Hoban?  Do you pray for them?

Prayer:

Christ Has No Body

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

St. Teresa of Avila