A wealthy man was once seen driving his luxurious Lamborghini through a bustling city. As he stopped to park, a curious passerby exclaimed, “Wow, such an expensive car! But did you notice your rear windows are broken?” The man smiled and replied, “Yes, they’re broken for a reason—they remind me of God’s Providential Love.” Perplexed, the passerby asked, “Broken windows… God’s love? How?”
The man began, “One day, I was speeding through these very streets when I heard a loud crash. A stone had struck my car. Furious, I stopped and saw a ragged boy, the culprit, standing nearby. My anger boiled as I approached him, but before I could say a word, he fell to his knees, hands clasped, tears streaming down his face.
Lessons in the Inconvenient
‘Sir,’ he pleaded, ‘look at my younger brother.’ He pointed to a paralyzed boy lying on the roadside, his legs bruised and bleeding. ‘A speeding bike hit him and left him in this state. I called out for help from passerby, but no one stopped. Desperate, I threw the stone, hoping someone would notice.’ The boy’s voice trembled as he continued, ‘I’m so sorry for damaging your car, but I didn’t know how else to get help for my brother.’
Tears filled my eyes. I knelt beside him and said, ‘My car windows are broken, but they’ve taught me something profound. Sometimes, God allows certain things to break to remind us to stop, to help, and to rely on Him. These broken windows are a sign of His Providential Love.’”
Look Up
These “broken windows” speak of —moments when things go wrong, when tragedies strike, or unexpected challenges arise. While painful, these breaks often carry hidden blessings, calling us to pause, reflect, and act with compassion.
Imagine sitting in a packed house, the air thick with anticipation as Jesus speaks. People are pressed shoulder to shoulder, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of Him. Suddenly, there’s a loud noise above. Dust begins to fall. A chunk of the roof breaks away. And then—tiles, mud, and debris come tumbling down as daylight streams in. All eyes shoot upward, jaws drop, and the murmurs rise: “What’s happening?”
Daring to Seek Christ
Through the chaos, a mat appears, carefully lowered by ropes, carrying a paralyzed man. His friends are on the roof, peering down with hopeful, determined faces. This scene, from Mark 2, is not just dramatic—it’s downright daring! These men didn’t let a packed house or a seemingly unbreakable barrier stop them from reaching Jesus. They literally tore the roof apart to get their friend to the Lord.
Picture the reactions. Some in the crowd might have been amazed by their ingenuity, while others muttered about the mess. “I got here early for a front-row seat, and now dirt’s falling on my head!” Yet Jesus, unfazed by the commotion, saw their boldness, their desperation, and most importantly, their faith. He didn’t rebuke them for interrupting His sermon. Instead, He healed the man and forgave his sins. The Paralyzed man rose, picked up his mat and went away in the sight of everyone, leaving the owner of the house by himself to repair the broken roof.
Digging Deeper
In our lives, we all face “roofs” that block our way—dead ends, failures, sickness, broken relationship or insurmountable challenges. But perhaps these barriers are opportunities to witness God’s power and love. Are you willing to let God break through your “roof” or “window” to show His providence? But like these friends, we are called to push through, to dig deeper.
Sometimes, brokenness isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of blessings. Because when roofs are broken, blessings pour in. Let’s be bold, creative, and unstoppable in our pursuit of God, knowing that even a broken roof or a broken window can lead to extraordinary grace.
- Father Boby's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
