Daily Reflection
October 11, 2025

The reading from Joel takes us into the Valley of Decision with the LORD standing as a refuge for His people. This is not a distant, impersonal judgment. It is the moment when He fully reveals his fidelity to the covenant with His people. “The LORD is a refuge to His people” is not only a promise for the future of His chosen people, but a present reality for anyone who places their trust in Him. As we seek to “find God in all things,” we are called to seek the LORD in our daily lives, even in moments of turmoil or spiritual dryness. The image of God as a refuge comes as a comfort in our moments of delight and those that are more challenging or mundane. 

In the Gospel, we hear Jesus say, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” These words focus the listener on the deep reality of discipleship. Intimacy with God is not about proximity to Him, but about participation in His work. This is a personal call to be not just a listener but a doer of the Word.

We can connect these seemingly disparate readings by considering how our lives dedicated to the Word of God allow us to dwell in His refuge. God’s protection comes in our relationship sustained by faith and fidelity to God’s teachings. Saint Ignatius reminds us that love is shown more in our actions than in words.

To “observe” God’s word is to let it challenge us to act in ways that preference God’s glory over our own comfort, and to align our daily actions with His teaching. Today’s readings present God as both our refuge and our mission. 

We can begin our prayer today in gratitude, recalling a time when God has been a refuge to us personally. We can then listen for Jesus’ invitation to live his word by asking ourselves, “Where is God calling me to act today? How can I serve as His refuge for others today?”