"PARA SA MGA BROKENHEARTED"

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Job 7:1-4,6-7; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23; Mark 1: 29-39

All of us have our own share of “brokenhearted experiences.” For teenagers, these usually happen after exerting a lot of time and effort just to win the hearts of young ladies yet ending up being “friendzoned.” For parents, these happen when after working hard to earn a living, they suddenly learn that their children are not doing well in school. Well, February 14 is just around the corner, being brokenhearted for some, probably means lining up in a firing squad on Valentine’s Day.

In our readings today, we can see a lot of brokenhearted people. In our first reading, the entire monologue of Job is simply an expression of his broken heart after losing everything. In our Gospel, Mark tells us that many people, the entire town were bringing to Jesus all who were sick and possessed by demons. They brought to Jesus their broken hearts.

Hence, we ask ourselves, “Is it ok to be brokenhearted?” Reflecting from our readings today, I can say that “it’s ok not to be ok” as one author puts it. And this is what Job tells us in our first reading. He can no longer contain his pain and suffering that he was able to say, “I shall not see happiness again.” What is interesting is that such language of Job’s brokenness is part of Sacred Scriptures, the Word of God.

This is our first challenge: that we do not run away from our broken hearts. Instead, we have to face it. We have to experience such brokenness because it has a purpose.

“It’s ok not to be ok.” What then is its purpose? Why is it ok to be brokenhearted?  Our responsorial psalm already gives us a clue to the answer: “Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.”

In our Gospel, Jesus told his disciples, “let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” Jesus came into the world not to proclaim himself as the authoritarian King of the Israel. No, he came into the world to establish the Father’s kingdom of mercy and compassion through his words and works. Therefore, our own share of brokenhearted experiences has a purpose – for Jesus to heal them through his merciful and compassionate heart. We do not fear our brokenness because we are not alone. Jesus, the Divine Physician, has come to heal us, to set us free. Jesus himself also experienced such brokenness. He too has carried his cross.

In our second reading today, St. Paul admits his obligation to preach. “Woe to me if I do not preach it.” This is our second challenge: that we continue to preach despite our broken hearts because in itself it is already a way of preaching: when people see us joyful despite our brokenness; when people become hopeful because they see us broken yet blessed by God.

All of us have our own share of “brokenhearted experiences.” Yet as joyful followers of Christ, let us remind ourselves that we too have our own share of heartfelt experiences with a God who has loved us with an everlasting love. Amen.


N.B. Title of this blog is taken from the book of Marcelo Santos, Para sa mga brokenhearted, while the picture is taken from http://www.lastdaysministries.org/Images/content/1000000028/1000120996.jpg