4TH WEEK OF LENT

O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

Have you ever discovered that people were saying unkind things about you behind your back? If so, didn’t it make you feel embarrassed and angry? That’s what the prophet Jeremiah felt like—and in his case, it wasn’t just gossip. Jerusalem’s leaders were conspiring to kill him because he was calling them to repent. When Jeremiah learned of their plot, he reacted the way many of us might. In bitterness he prayed that he might “witness the vengeance” God would take on them (Jeremiah 11:20).

Those were harsh words—and from so holy a man! But in contrast, we have today’s responsorial psalm. Rather than pray for his enemy’s destruction, the psalmist simply says, “O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge” (Psalm 7:2). This can become your prayer as well!

When you are faced with a situation that is causing you great anxiety and worry, you can run to the Lord, who is your “strong tower” (Proverbs 18:10). There, under his protection, you can find a moment’s peace to gather your thoughts, receive his guidance, or place your fears and worries at his feet. It’s not always easy, but with practice you can learn to say, “Lord, I take refuge in you.”

But this prayer is not just for crises! You can say it even when you’re just going about your daily tasks. At different points during the day, you can recall that God is close to you at all times and is always ready to welcome you. You can offer a prayer of praise that lasts just a few seconds. You can intercede for someone. You can ask for the grace to “do everything for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Or you can just whisper, “O Lord, I take refuge in you.”

Your heavenly Father loves you so much that he offers himself to you as a refuge for the hard times and for the ordinary days. Even when you want to lash out in anger against someone, as Jeremiah did, he offers you a place to rest and regain your peace. His arms are always open to you!

“Lord, you are my place of constant refuge!”

Jeremiah 11:18-20
Psalm 7:2-3, 9-12
John 7:40-53