March 21, 2026 // Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Psalm: Psalm 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12
Reflect on the Word //
There are many things I don’t like about driving in heavy rain: the decreased visibility, the threat of floodwaters, the increased likelihood of a crash, the sound of raindrops—so soothing when I am home, cuddled on my couch with a book and a cup of tea—pummeling the roof of my little Mini Cooper. I am a somewhat anxious driver at the best of times, and inclement weather does nothing to quell my nerves. Especially if I’m on the freeway.
The brief reprieve afforded by an underpass in these situations comes as a welcome refuge. For two seconds—or a few minutes, if traffic is crawling along—I can almost forget I’m in a storm. The raindrops cease; I can hear the Spotify playlist I’ve cranked up to distract me and the directions issuing from my GPS system. And I am reminded that the rain doesn’t, in fact, touch everything. There are still some places that remain impenetrable.
This is the image that comes to mind in reflecting on today’s Responsorial Psalm: “O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge” (Psalm 7:2a). In the chaos and tumult of everyday life, when I feel as if I’m driving down the freeway in an epic thunderstorm, the love of the Lord quiets my heart. The clamor of the world ceases and I can hear His voice above the rattle of my anxiety. But His consolation is not merely a temporary reprieve; His sturdy protection never abandons me.
Nor does His protection ever abandon you, sister, no matter how stormy the weather—either literally or metaphorically. His love, sturdy and impenetrable, is a quiet place that is always available to us, shielding us from danger; He wants us to seek shelter in Him whenever we feel frightened or anxious, confident that He will save the “upright of heart” who trust in Him (Psalm 7:11).
Relate to the Lord // Take a few moments in silence today and share your anxieties with Him. Let Jesus quiet your heart.
Dr. Sarah Zentner is a bibliophile and “hygge” enthusiast who delights in steaming mugs of tea, freshly baked pastries, the Little Way, and all things true, good, and beautiful. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the Catholic University of America and lives with her toy poodle, JoJo, in Washington, D.C., where she teaches literature at an all-girls Catholic secondary school.
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