You Heard My Plea

A Reflection for Saturday, March 28 by Mary Rodriguez

Lectionary reading for 03/28/2026: Psalm 31:9-16, Lamentations 3:55-66, Mark 10:32-34

Read

Psalm 32:9-16 New Revised Standard Version

9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

    my eye wastes away from grief,

    my soul and body also.

10 For my life is spent with sorrow,

    and my years with sighing;

my strength fails because of my misery,[a]

    and my bones waste away.

11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries,

    a horror[b] to my neighbours,

an object of dread to my acquaintances;

    those who see me in the street flee from me.

12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;

    I have become like a broken vessel.

13 For I hear the whispering of many—

    terror all around!—

as they scheme together against me,

    as they plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, O Lord;

    I say, ‘You are my God.’

15 My times are in your hand;

    deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.

16 Let your face shine upon your servant;

    save me in your steadfast love.

Lamentations 3:55-66, NRSV

55 I called on your name, O Lord,

    from the depths of the pit;

56 you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear

    to my cry for help, but give me relief!’

57 You came near when I called on you;

    you said, ‘Do not fear!’

58 You have taken up my cause, O Lord,

    you have redeemed my life.

59 You have seen the wrong done to me, O Lord;

    judge my cause.

60 You have seen all their malice,

    all their plots against me.

61 You have heard their taunts, O Lord,

    all their plots against me.

62 The whispers and murmurs of my assailants

    are against me all day long.

63 Whether they sit or rise—see,

    I am the object of their taunt-songs.

64 Pay them back for their deeds, O Lord,

    according to the work of their hands!

65 Give them anguish of heart;

    your curse be on them!

66 Pursue them in anger and destroy them

    from under the Lord’s heavens.

Mark 10:32-34, NRSV

32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; 34 they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.’

Sodoma (Giovanni Antonio Bazzi), 1510

Reflect

How does God respond to our suffering? 

Our readings from Psalms and Lamentations today speak from a place of suffering. Of grief. Of distress. Of terror. From the depths of despair. The writer of the Psalm hopes for God’s deliverance and favor for themselves. The writer of the Lamentation asks for payback, curses, and destruction for their enemies. 

That sounds familiar. Relief from troubles. Retribution for grievances. Vengeance for the violence committed. And if I’m honest, yes, I’ll have what they’re having, please. 

However, let us remember that Jesus makes it clear what his response is along the road to Jerusalem. Jesus knows that his entry to a Roman-occupied city, a city under authoritarian rule, a city for which he weeps, will be counter-cultural. It will be a sign of protest, and will give hope to many observers that indeed, God may finally deliver them. Jesus is walking forward with purpose. Those who follow him are afraid.

What comfort does Jesus give the frightened disciples? Not the message of salvation from suffering, nor of God vanquishing adversaries. 

Jesus will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Romans; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again. Jesus intends to join those suffering the most under authoritarian oppression and imperial rule. He goes to suffer and die alongside the people. 

The good news that Jesus shares: God hears your plea. God suffers alongside you. You are not alone. God joins you in this, too. 

Respond 

There is so much suffering in our world, in our country, and at the hands of our country. How would God respond? Certainly, to be alongside those who are suffering and dying. 

As we are called to follow Christ, in what ways can you come alongside the suffering? Can you advocate for change? Protest? Vote? Donate? Do without so you can share resources with those in need? Call a friend? Sit with a neighbor? Join community organizers and neighborhood volunteers? Suffer if necessary? 

Do you already find yourself in a place of suffering? Know that God sees you, weeps with you, and will stay with you. Please reach out to the faithful, so they can join you in your suffering, too. 

Rest 

Our loving God, in your glory, may your name be praised.

May your Kingdom come, may your will be done, even here, though you may seem far away.  

Give us each day what we need to sustain our life and our work.

Forgive us when we fail, and help us to call out, but allow for restoration of those who have failed us. 

Guide us in ways that are consistent with your lovingkindness, lest we be tempted to be filled with hatred, and deliver us from being consumed.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen

About the Author 

Mary Rodriguez provides case management and works in health advocacy. She lives in Chicago with her wife. The majestic beauty of creation is like a salve, and they are so grateful to live in a beautiful city by one of the world’s Great Lakes.