Broken and Belonging

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today declare the commitment of Christ to love those suffering from brokenness in society.

Welcome the Broken

In the Reading from the Book of Wisdom, the wicked deny survival after death.

* [2:1–20] In this speech the wicked deny survival after death and indeed invite death by their evil deeds.

* [2:12–5:23] From 2:12 to 5:23 the author draws heavily on Is 52–62, setting forth his teaching in a series of characters or types taken from Isaiah and embellished with additional details from other texts. The description of the “righteous one” in 2:12–20 seems to undergird the New Testament passion narrative.

* [2:12] Law: the law of Moses; “training” has the same meaning.

* [2:22] This verse announces the subject of the next section. (Wisdom, CHAPTER 2 |, n.d.)

Psalm 34 declares God gives protection to the poor.

* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus attends The Feast of Tabernacles.

* [7:26] The authorities: the members of the Sanhedrin (same term as Jn 3:1). (John, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Amy Turbes comments that having a broken heart is a very real part of the human condition. We have all experienced heartbrokenness at some time... When we feel helpless to fix things or guilty when we have so much.

“Lord, I am brokenhearted.”

“Amy, I watch over you, take refuge in me.”

Sharing these feelings with God is not to ask for them to be taken away, but to accept them as a true part of my humanity and God’s presence in my life. Even with my own brokenness, I accept this pain and share it with God.

From one human (aka child of God) to another, I invite you, at this midpoint in Lent, to be open to a new way of encountering God. Perhaps use your favorite psalm as a conversation starter. Or spend time with a psalm or passage you find difficult and tell God how those words really make you feel. God wants to be a part of your life—all of it—and is simply waiting for the invitation.

In this Lenten season, may you discover new ways to communicate with God and savor the graces it gives. (Turbes, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Christ our physician,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"As Christians, our task is to make daily progress toward God. Our pilgrimage on earth is a school in which God is the only teacher, and it demands good students, not ones who play truant. In this school we learn something every day. We learn something from commandments, something from examples, and something from sacraments. These things are remedies for our wounds and materials for study." (excerpt from Sermon 218c,1) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in the passage from the Book of Wisdom the wicked will array themselves against the good people They will plot to defeat the good people. In the Gospel Jesus comes to Jerusalem where the leaders are trying to kill Him as He proclaims to be from God not Nazareth. They respond by trying Him for blasphemy but Friar Jude declares that it is where Jesus really is from.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Wisdom 2:1, 12-22 comments that without the help of a loving God, we risk coming to the conclusion that “nothing really matters, anyone can see,” as Freddie Mercury lamented in the song “Bohemian Rhapsody.” We may wonder, “Why bother pursuing goodness? What is to be gained by suffering or sacrifice?”

Jesus, the innocent victim, has revealed to the world “the hidden counsels of God” (Wisdom 2:22). He has shown that our highest calling is to imitate him by setting aside glory, by washing each other’s feet, and by enduring even betrayal and death for the sake of the gospel. Jesus has revealed the true answer to the question “Why bother?” And that answer is as simple as it is profound, as comforting as it is challenging: because Jesus has loved us, even to the point of his own death, and all who want to live in him must love as he did.

“Jesus, thank you for revealing to us the wisdom of God!” (Meditation on Wisdom 2:1, 12-22, n.d.)

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces psychotherapist James Finley who found himself retraumatized by an abusive priest as a young man, after living with a violent father. Finley shares how Jesus met him in his deep shame and suffering.

Then suddenly, looking this way and that, I saw Jesus sitting alone in the moonlight at the edge of a clearing. I walked across the clearing and knelt at his feet. I could feel his hand on my shoulder as I leaned in close to whisper in his ear, revealing the burdens of my shame-based weakness and fear. 

Having poured out all that my wounded and hurting heart was moved and able to say, Jesus drew me in close and whispered in my ear three words that set me free, words that still echo inside me to this day. I heard him whisper: “I love you!” 

Dazed and amazed in being so unexplainably loved, the spirit within me let me know what both Jesus and I were waiting to hear me say. So I leaned in close and whispered my secret “I love you” to Jesus. And there in that instant there was the realization between us that the matter was settled once and for all. The matter being that the good news of God’s love for us is never measured by our ability to be true to who we know in our heart God is calling us to be. For the sole measure of God’s love for us is the measureless expanse of God’s merciful love, permeating us and taking us to itself in the midst of our faltering and wayward ways. (Rohr, n.d.)

We contemplate the promise of Jesus to meet us in our brokenness and rejection by the forces that seek to control our world by coercion and corruption with an invitation to replace hate with love and aggression with cooperation.

References

John, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/7? 

Meditation on Wisdom 2:1, 12-22. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/03/20/1521806/ 

Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?17 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Jesus Heals Our Shame. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/jesus-stills-heals-our-shame/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). His Hour Had Not yet Come. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Turbes, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-march-20-2026 

Wisdom, CHAPTER 2 |. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/wisdom/2?1 

Grace and Mercy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to assess the limits we place in our response with mercy to the people and situations that bring us an opportunity to extend grace to others. 

"While still a long way off"

The Reading from the Prophet Micah is a prayer that God will care for the people as in ancient days.

* [7:14–17] A prayer that God will care for the people as in ancient days (v. 14) is answered (vv. 15–17) when the Lord promises to do marvelous things. The nations shall be afraid and turn to the Lord.

* [7:18–20] The final lines of the book contain a hymn of praise for the incomparable God, who pardons sin and delights in mercy. Thus the remnant, those left after the exile, is confident in God’s compassion and in the ancient promises sworn to the ancestors. (Micah, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 103 praises God for personal benefits and mercy toward all the people.

* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22). (Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents The Parable of the Lost Son.

* [15:1–32] To the parable of the lost sheep (Lk 15:1–7) that Luke shares with Matthew (Mt 18:12–14), Luke adds two parables (the lost coin, Lk 15:8–10; the prodigal son, Lk 15:11–32) from his own special tradition to illustrate Jesus’ particular concern for the lost and God’s love for the repentant sinner. (Luke, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Carol Zuegner comments that too often, she judges herself and others by making comparisons and ranking who is best and who needs work. Who is deserving and who is not. God loves each of us for the person we are right now, with our warts, our sins, our challenges. The road to forgiveness is always there, as it was for the prodigal son. Even if we get lost along the way, we can still find our way back. The door is open.

I often feel that I don’t measure up, that I am broken, but I am reminded that God wants me to come as I am. The door is open, and love is always there. I know God wants me to feel that love and then pass that along. To be the older brother and celebrate the return of the prodigal son. I know I will still struggle with the what-about-me, but I can work on letting go of those comparisons and rankings. I pray that my heart can be open and loving, to celebrate others as I know God the Father celebrates me. (Zuegner, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Life through death,” by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Did you make it possible for yourselves to merit God's mercy because you turned back to him? If you hadn't been called by God, what could you have done to turn back? Didn't the very One Who called you when you were opposed to Him make it possible for you to turn back? Don't claim your conversion as your own doing. Unless He had called you when you were running away from Him, you would not have been able to turn back." (Commentary on Psalm 84, 8) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Micah the idea is presented that Israel will be able to shepherd flocks in the lands of the pagans as a restoration. The strength of God is measured in forgiveness and compassion. These are not weak virtues but require strength especially when undeserved. The idea of sin as contagion is held among the religious leaders of Israel and Jesus tells of the “Prodigal”, meaning generous, father who has compassion as one who undeservedly forgives. Consider the rudeness of seeking inheritance before the father dies. Friar Jude wonders when the son goes to father to ask for forgiveness, is he really sorry or is he seeking food from the father? Jewish custom would have allowed the father to be less forgiving but the father is waiting to forgive in true mercy without evidence of true contrition. The elder brother is upset and maybe self-interested in his diminishing inheritance. Friar Jude reminds us that God rejoices when sinners return. He is just waiting like the Prodigal Father.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 invites us to look again at the father. Yes, he embraces his long-lost son and throws a party for him. But right away he notices his other son’s absence and goes looking for him. He pleads with him to join the celebration. He listens patiently as the son expresses his anger and disgust. But then he urges him to soften his heart. He assures him, “You are here with me always; everything I have is yours” (Luke 15:31). He insists on speaking of his younger son as “your brother” (15:32), urging his older son to seize the good and join the joy.

Whether you identify with the older son or the younger son, God is inviting you to come to him and join the feast at his table. Whether you’ve wandered far from your heavenly Father and are returning or you have served him for years, he is inviting you to join him in the rejoicing.

“Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Where would I be without it?” (Meditation on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, n.d.)

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces writer and activist adrienne maree brown who connects our ability to practice restorative justice to our individual capacity for resilience in the face of harm. We cannot practice collectively what we have not practiced in our own lives and personal relationships.

Your work is to break the cycle of punishment in any room you hold….

Restoration can be a transformative, healing act in a community…. Transformative justice is a way of moving into accountability, deepening relationship, clarifying boundaries, and opening the way for more collective possibilities….

Practice transformative justice in your closest relationships. Choose patience, communication, mediation, curiosity, boundaries, and uprooting harm over cancellation, public humiliation, ghosting people, or other methods of disposing of people. The more you practice it personally, the more you will be able to support others through it politically and collectively. (Rohr, 2026)

We seek the understanding of the Spirit to process the frequent response that contradicts Jesus' Way, demonstrated by the father of the sons, with an attitude that we get what we deserve in our wandering away from acceptable behaviour.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/15?1 

Meditation on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/03/07/1513881/ 

Micah, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/micah/7?14 

Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103? 

Rohr, R. (2026, March 6). An All-Embracing Love — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC.org. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-all-embracing-love/  

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Father, I Have Sinned against Heaven and You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Zuegner, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-march-7-2026