Reflection for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 22, 2021

By Sr Mary Hlas ND

In today’s Responsorial Psalm, we hear, “When the just cry out, the Lord hears them and from all their distress (upset) He rescues them.”  “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and to those who are crushed in spirit He saves.”

How many of us can own that we have been in distress, upset?  Personally, I have been upset when things happened and when they DID NOT happen.  I’m sure this is rather common. This is a perfect time to turn to the Lord and meditate on the goodness of the Lord. He truly cares.

The Responsorial Psalm also states, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and to those who are crushed in spirit.”  We can experience being broken hearted and crushed in spirt when illness or death occurs, with job loss, or family finances or difficulties. When life presents us with difficulties, we need to remember that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and to those crushed in spirit. We pray for the grace to believe this so that we can turn to the Lord who loves us so much.