14th Week in Ordinary Time : Monday 7th July 2025

Psalm 91, if read carefully, involves three persons.

The first person is us. The second is a wise person who reminds us of God’s faithfulness, and our fitting response towards God. And the third person is God. The last three verses “Since he clings to Me in love, I will free him; protect him for he knows My name. When he calls, I shall answer: ‘I am with you,’ I will save him in distress. (vv. 14-16)” is God’s personal assurance and promise.

Perhaps, this was the experience of Jacob fleeing Beersheba for Haran to seek refuge with Rachel’s brother, Laban. Despite fleeing after robbing the blessings of birthright for Esau from their father Isaac, Jacob was visited by God in a dream, assuring him of his future. Jacob had no one to trust fully but God alone, and perhaps this was his saving grace. This took place in Bethel, the house of God, the same place his grandfather, Abraham had the visitation from God and the promise of the land and of generations to come.

The official, Jarius (Mark 5:22) who pleaded to Jesus for his dead daughter’s wellbeing, and the woman suffering from haemorrhage for twelve years who touched the fringe of Jesus’ garment, were persons of faith. Their faith and devotion echo the trust of the psalmist to God as the deliverer, comforter, healer and protector. Are we persons capable of trusting and being trusted?

O Lord, in my distress, supply what is deficient in me