When the Storm Meets the Rock

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, March 8th, 2026:
Third Sunday of Lent

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Psalm 95

R. O that today you would listen to the voice of the Lord. Do not harden your hearts!

O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

R. O that today you would listen to the voice of the Lord. Do not harden your hearts!

O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

R. O that today you would listen to the voice of the Lord. Do not harden your hearts!

O that today you would listen to his voice! Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your ancestors tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

​R. O that today you would listen to the voice of the Lord. Do not harden your hearts!

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Psalm 95 is one of the chapters in the Book of Psalms that I have read over and over. However, today, taking my time to meditate on it brought me to another level of understanding. I often hurry to complete a chapter of Scripture rather than sit with it. Slowing down helped me to realize that I had never truly reflected on what this psalm was saying. If you are reading this today, it is not by coincidence. Perhaps God is inviting both you and me to meditate on His Word rather than rush through it.

As I read Psalm 95, I began questioning my approach to God in prayer. Do I go before Him with gratitude or only seeking answers to unresolved problems? The psalm reminds me to approach God with a joyful noise in every season, not only after prayers have been answered. This sounds easy until real storms come. I have been there. Waking to false accusations, I choose gratitude instead of a hardened heart. It is not easy to remain grateful when life feels overwhelming. Yet the psalm calls God “the Rock”: unshakeable, reliable, and constant. He does not slumber. He watches over us continually. No matter how stormy the path, I choose to go before Him with thanksgiving.

The psalm also invites us to worship and bow down, to kneel before the Lord, our Maker. This challenges me to examine whether I truly surrender everything to Him. Do I rely on my own strength, or do I humbly recognize that the One who created me can turn any situation around? Obedience matters. Scriptures show that when King David honoured God’s instructions regarding the Ark, there was blessing, but when there was disobedience, there were consequences. Reverence and obedience go hand in hand.

Psalm 95 reminds me that we are the people of His pasture, the sheep of His hand. Even when life feels blurred, God remains the Good Shepherd, guiding, correcting, and protecting. My identity is rooted in Him. Therefore, I must listen attentively to His voice through Scripture, through the Word proclaimed at Mass, and through the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, the psalm warns against hardening our hearts like the Israelites in the wilderness. It is easy to complain during a difficult season and to forget how far God has brought us. One lesson I have learned is this: do not let the discomfort of today rob you of thanksgiving for what God has already done. Even storms serve a purpose. Sometimes discomfort is preparation for testimony.

Let us pray: Gracious Father, please forgive my ingratitude. Please teach me to approach You with thanksgiving, humility, and obedience. May my heart remain soft and receptive to Your voice through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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