“Realizing God’s Providential Love in every situation of life!”

(Based on Heb 3:7-14 and Mk 2:1-12 – Friday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A wealthy man was once seen driving his Lamborghini car through the streets of a busy city.

As he stopped in a particular place for parking, a curious passer-by, remarked at the driver:
“Hey, it’s surprising! You’re driving such an expensive car… but didn’t you notice that your rear window glasses are broken!”

“There’s a reason for pursuing with the broken glasses…”, the man in the car replied, “the broken windows remind me of God’s Providential Love!”

“Huh?”, enquired the passer-by with greater curiosity, “How do ‘broken windows’ remind you of God’s Providential Love?”

“Well.. then, listen to my story,” said the man as he continued, ” I was once passing through the streets, zipping across in my luxurious car…
… when suddenly, a crashing sound was heard from the back!

I saw that a stone had been thrown at my car!

In great anger, I noticed that it was a rag-picker boy, who had thrown the stone!

My blood boiled, in rage, as I stopped my vehicle and moved closer to him.

But then I saw him, joining his hands, as he pleaded to me in tears: “Sir, look at my younger brother…

I noticed to see, that a young boy who legs were paralyzed was lying down, with a heavy scars and bruises on his legs.

The boy continued: ‘I was crossing the road, helping my lame brother, when a fast-moving bike ran over him, to leave with a bleeding leg.

I called out to many people for help…
… but none cared!

Finally, out of my helplessness, I decided to throw a stone at the vehicle which would come next, in order to seek help!

The boy continued: ‘Sir, I am extremely sorry that your expensive car is damaged. But, trust me, this was the only way I could seek help for my injured brother!”

Tears filled my eyes, as I told the boy: “My car windows are surely broken! But they are also a reminder, that sometimes, we have to allow God to break certain things, to remind…
… that we need to stop and help!
… that we need to depend on God in all aspects of life!

Surely, these broken windows are a sign of God’s Providential Love!”

Are there “broken windows” in our life?

Broken windows…
… when tragedies and calamities have hit our life?
… when untimely incidents and unexpected twists have taken place in life?

Though difficult to comprehend, perhaps, a deeper reflection, will help us to realize that such “Broken Windows are a sign of God’s Providential Love!”

The Gospel of the Day is a story of how a “broken roof becomes a sign of God’s Providential Love!”

We are travelling very quickly with St Mark’s journey of the ministry of Jesus.

We were with Jesus by the Sea of Galilee, where He called the first disciples (Mk 1: 16-20)

Then…
… we came to the synagogue, where Jesus cures a man with an unclean spirit (Mk: 1: 21-28)
… we reached Simon’s house, where Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law (Mk 1:29-31)
… we went to the mountains to pray with Jesus, who always remained focused (Mk 1: 35)
… we met a leper, unacceptable in the society, who was made clean by Jesus (Mk 1: 40-45)

The journey moves fast and immediately…

At Capernaum, a great crowd has gathered in a house, where Jesus is preaching (Mk 2:1-2)

The house is fully packed with people cramming to hear the Lord and seek His Healing..

Then comes a group of thick friends who have brought their paralytic friend to Jesus.

They came with much expectation to get their friend whole and well again.

But as they approached the house…
… their hopes went down!

The massive gathering at the door thinned their anticipations!

But when the chips are down…
… one is given a chance to find strength one never knew one had & put it toward the greater good.

They came seeking for blessings…
… but it seemed, that the firmament was closed to shower down blessings!

But then they had a hope: They realized that “Even a broken roof can be a sign of God’s Providential Love!”

And so they decided to plead God to shower His blessings: “by tear opening the roof!”

“Unable to get near Jesus, because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above Him” (Mk 1:4)

Their “tearing of the roof”…
… is blessed by “pouring down of blessings” and a “cleansing of sins”.

Many of the times, we too face similar barriers and blockages in our experience for the Lord.

We need to plead to God to shower His blessings: “by tear opening the roof!”

When we have…
… ‘end-of-the-road’ feelings and hopeless situations
… problems which seem impossible and unsolvable
Are we willing to have our “roofs broken”…
… and thus realize God’s Providential Love?!

Difficulties and barriers will always be many in life…
Hardships and challenges will often stare on our face…

But let us have the grit and the guts to be ready to “have our roof broken” of all such adversities!

Yes, let us understand that even a “broken roof is a sign of God’s Providential Love!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK – ITS FOUNDATIONS IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION

Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life. In illness, man experiences his powerlessness, his limitations, and his finitude.

Every illness can make us glimpse death. (CCC # 1499)