Today we return to the third Servant Song that we heard at Mass on Sunday. We are reminded of the need to listen to God’s word and to offer hope to “the wearied” but perhaps as Holy Week goes on, we might concentrate our attention on the latter part of the song which notes the opposition faced by the servant. Clearly, we see these words fulfilled in what happened to Jesus himself, but such opposition can face every disciple as we try to live out our mission of following in the Lord’s footsteps. In these circumstances we are encouraged when the servant notes, “The Lord comes to my help… I know I shall not be shamed. My vindicator is close at hand.”  As we reach the climax of Lent in these troubling days those words of encouragement are spoken to us to affirm us in what we are trying to do at this time.