FINDING REFUGE IN THE LORD

 




SATURDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT(YEAR B)


Jeremiah 11:8-10

Psalm 7:2-3,9-12

John 7:40-52: 



Imagine a world teeming with unseen dangers all around us! Jeremiah, a prophet of his time, was completely unaware of the peril stalking him until the divine whispered the truth into his ears. Picture this: his hometown, his flesh and blood, conspiring against him! In a moment of desperation, Jeremiah cries out to Yahweh, voicing a profound complaint: why do the wicked thrive while the righteous—like himself and fellow prophets—suffer unjustly (12:1-4)? What a shocking revelation awaits him! Yahweh responds with a warning that the trials Jeremiah has faced so far are mere whispers compared to the tempest of troubles looming ahead (12:5-6). 



But Yahweh's message goes deeper; there’s an aching sorrow behind it. His beloved people have turned their backs on Him, pushing Him to the brink of destruction. Yet, in His wrath, He is grieved, knowing He must turn away from those He loves dearly (12:7-13). Here lies the crux of Jeremiah’s plight: he is intimately linked to the fate of his people; their pain will echo through him. And in this heartbreaking scenario, Yahweh feels the weight of that suffering even more, as it is He who must deliver the consequences to His cherished children.



Flipping to today's psalm, we find a powerful prayer brimming with trust and unwavering confidence in God! It speaks of a soul facing unjust persecution, teetering on the edge of death, yet holding steadfastly onto faith and seeking refuge in the Almighty. This theme resonates throughout all the readings—a testament to resilience in the face of adversity.



Then, we turn to Isaiah, who paints an incredible portrait of the Messiah as a suffering servant—a man intimately familiar with sorrow. “Surely he took our pain and bore our suffering” (Isaiah 53:3-4). Christ, aware of His divine destiny, foresaw the suffering and rejection awaiting Him at the hands of the chief priests and elders, yet He also knew He would rise triumphantly on the third day.


As the story unfolds, Jesus, being God incarnate, is acutely aware of the nefarious plans against Him. While teaching the masses, some hearts begin to believe, but others conspire to arrest Him. Yet, in an astonishing twist, no one dares to lay a finger on Him—His time has not yet come! When the Pharisees hear whispers of belief in Him, frustration mounts, leading them to dispatch officers to seize Him. But Jesus remains calm, unfazed. The officers return, utterly bewildered, reporting, “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” Indeed, Jesus is the Word made flesh, the Creator of everything visible and invisible.



He desires for us to embrace Him as our personal Lord and Master. When we do, the Holy Spirit ignites a burning passion within us to know, love, and serve Jesus without hesitation. He, the author and interpreter of the sacred scriptures, guides us along the path of righteousness. Amen!

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