3rd Sunday Lent
Dear Parishioners,
“If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
On this 3rd Sunday of Lent we are given the beautiful story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well. Jesus is resting by the well, for he was tired from his journey. A Samaritan woman approaches the well at noon, during the heat of the day, perhaps to avoid the scorn of the other women who looked down on her. Jesus then asks her for a drink of water. This would have greatly surprised her because Jews used nothing in common with Samaritans, yet Jesus was willing to drink from her utensil. When the woman questioned Jesus about this, he responded, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The ‘living water’ Jesus desired to give her was the spiritual gift of mercy and grace to renew and refresh her soul. Jesus was able to tell the woman “You have had five husbands…” Why would Jesus bring up this woman’s past? Jesus knew that the woman had been searching for fulfilment throughout her life, engaging in one relationship after another. By speaking this way to her, Jesus lets her know that he knows all about her, loves her, and longs to fill her with the love she has been searching for throughout her life. After the encounter, the woman left the well overjoyed and confidently went to the other people of the town and said, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?” Our Easter preparations in Lent are taking us towards the great feast of our redemption when Jesus gives his life for us on the Cross and then rises again so that he can pour out the living water of his love on us through the Holy Spirit. Let us reflect today on the importance of opening our eyes to see the reality of our sins so that we can receive the living water of God’s mercy. The closer to God we become, the more clearly we see our need for this living water. Let us imitate this Samaritan woman today. Let us offer all our shame and guilt to God to receive his abundant mercy so that like this woman, we can know that God knows us completely and loves us with an everlasting love
God Bless You,
Fr Martin
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