A Reflection for the Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

In today’s first reading, Jeremiah is described as a “trusting lamb led to slaughter” as his enemies’ threaten to kill him. Though we will likely never experience the severity of suffering plotted against Jeremiah, we have all experienced the struggle of trusting God in the midst of uncertainty, suffering and pain. Without knowing exactly what God has planned for us in our lives, we are called to trust Him completely by surrendering our worries and fears. But how often do we exemplify this complete trust of a gentle lamb for its shepherd? How often do we instead become worried and anxious about the future of a potential “slaughter”? I know that at least for myself, in the face of hardship and suffering I struggle to maintain the peace and easily forget that God is walking with me every step of the way. 

However, today’s first reading gives us insight into how to approach these scenarios through prayer. After acknowledging the suffering that is plotted against him, Jerimiah introduces a clause that shifts his entire approach to this fear:

“But, you, O LORD of hosts, O just Judge, searcher of mind and heart, Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause!” (Jeremiah 11:20)

Jeremiah’s prayer recognizes that there will be suffering along the way, BUT God will never abandon us. Just as Jeremiah’s response exemplifies the virtues of a “trusting lamb,” God invites us to entrust our causes unto Him and take refuge in His love and care.

As we prepare for Easter, the image of a trusting lamb led to slaughter reflects Jesus’s own death that we will remember on Good Friday. However, Jesus was not a blind lamb unaware of the suffering to come, rather he knew his fate and willingly chose to die for us as the ultimate sacrificial love. These last few weeks of Lent, may we meditate on the relationship between a trusting lamb and God the good shepherd so that when we face challenges in our faith we can be like Jeremiah and turn to God with complete confidence saying, “for to you I have entrusted my cause!”