BROKEN WINDOWS THEORY

[1]The broken windows theory, defined in 1982 by social scientists James Wilson and George Kelling argues, no matter how rich or poor a neighborhood, one broken window would soon lead to many more windows being broken: “One unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing.” Disorder increases levels of fear among citizens, which leads them to withdraw from the community and decrease participation in informal social control.[2]

There are those who would say Ruth and Naomi were broken widows living in a foreign land. Ruth wasn’t even a member of the Jewish people. She was a Moabite. Yet, she demonstrated great love for her mother-in-law by leaving her own people, her own land, her own customs, and traveling to Israel with Naomi. As widows arriving in Israel, they had no claim to any property or inheritance.

God used their brokenness to blossom forth into the Flower of Jesse, the long-awaited Messiah. Ruth appears along with four other women in the genealogy of Matthew’s infancy narrative as a memorable ancestor of David—considered the greatest of kings—and through his line, Jesus. Although illustrating how the levirate marriage was meant to preserve patriarchy, the Book of Ruth actually illustrates the women’s portrayal as the faithful Israelite in a true and unconditional response to Israel’s God. As a foreigner, Ruth represents the universal scope of God’s providence and salvation.

Each of us has some level of brokenness. We normally don’t readily admit it and we tend to attempt to hide it; often in our family name, our success, even in our addictions. But they can sometimes be our richest asset if used well. Sometimes, it’s only by being broken that new life can spring forth. As the poet Rumi says, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” If Ruth and Naomi hadn’t been widowed, they probably would have remained in Moab. Their brokenness called them forth to newness.[3]

Although the brokenness, of the world and our nation, seem to fit the broken windows theory. Can we trust that God can use our brokenness to bring forth fruitfulness? As the psalmist says, we serve a God who “keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, sets captives free, gives sight to the blind, raises those bowed down, love the just, protects strangers, and sustains the fatherless and widows.” (Ps 146:6c-9b) Unlike the broken windows theory, at each Eucharist, we are reminded that Jesus’ Body is broken and given for us. God knows our brokenness and wants us to love like Him. To trust Him in allowing ourselves to be broken for others, and from this new life may spring forth?

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22; Matthew 22:34-40

[2] psychologytoday.com. “Broken Windows Theory” posted October 8, 2019.

[3] Weekday HomilyHelps. Homily Suggestion by Sister Anna Marie Covely, OSC.