Homily: March 16, 2026, Monday of the Fourth week in lent (God rescues)

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“I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.”

This was our response in today’s responsorial psalm, an expression of our gratitude and praise to God.

The word ‘rescued’ triggered a memory.

Recently a family invited me to dinner. They have two little boys, a two-year-old and a four-year-old. They asked me over mainly because the boys wanted to play with me.

When I was there, the four-year-old came to me and said very seriously, “Father, you are stuck in the mud. I will rescue you!”

Then he grabbed my hand and pulled me with his might, as if really trying to get me out of mud. After that he asked, “Are you okay?” I had to answer, “Yes I am ok, thank you.”

A few minutes later he would come to me and repeat the same: “Father, you are stuck in the mud. I will rescue you!”

I don’t remember how many times he did that, but he never seemed tired of repeating it. He loved the idea of rescuing me, someone who seemed to be enjoying being rescued by him too! 

In a much deeper and more real way, God’s plan is to rescue all of us. He can see that we are stuck in the mud, by our own foolishness. And the harder we try our own ways, we sink deeper. So He reaches out to rescue us.

Sometimes we reject His hand, sometimes we hold on and get out. But soon after, we jumped into another pool of mud. And God reaches out again and never seem to get tired of doing it.

From the very beginning of human history, after the fall of Adam and Eve, humanity kept wandering away from God, step into danger, falling into sin, creating suffering for us and others. Yet God never abandons us. Again and again, He reaches out to rescue us.

Throughout the Old Testament He sent prophets tell us the way. Finally, He sent His own Son to show us the way. Jesus came into the world to rescue us.

This is God’s plan for His beloved people. It does not matter how deep in the mud we may be, our troubles, our brokenness, our sins are never too great for Him. 

This is why Lent is such a beautiful season. The readings and the traditions we practice in this season, are all set to remind us that God is waiting for us. He does not give up on us, never.

So today, let us pray for all who are stuck deep in the mud of sin, suffering, or despair, may we realize that God’s mighty hand is always stretched out towards us, and may we learn to grab hold of it and not let go again. Be rescued, and stay that way.

Amen.


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