Lenten Reflection for 3/3

Third Sunday of Lent

Daily Prayer

Eternal God, You have given us every mercy and goodness. Remind us that earthly goods do not satisfy; they leave an empty spot in our hearts for Your moment of grace. We will always be restless until we rest in You. Touch our hearts, O Lord, so that the desperate longing that is there may open up to You, our true joy and happiness. Amen


Scripture Readings

Exodus 17:3-7; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42
(Click for today’s Readings.)

Scripture Quote

John 5:13-14

Jesus answered and said to her,
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”


Reflection

Jesus goes out to meet a Samaritan woman who is preparing to draw water from the well. After a sincere dialogue, Jesus tells the woman details about her life, enabling her to discover herself, who she is. And she comes to discover who He is. She realizes the unknown traveler is the Messiah people were waiting for. And she realizes that she was thirsty not so much for the natural water as for the “living water” that Jesus was offering her.

Today Jesus is also coming out to meet us because He wants to engage in dialogue with each one of us. He takes the initiative, but it is necessary for us to open ourselves to Jesus in order to discover who He is and who we are. We may have to refine some images we have formed of Jesus. And we can only achieve that if we allow Jesus to manifest Himself to us as He is.

If we listen carefully to Jesus, we will also discover who we are, what our aspirations are, our values… Perhaps we will realize that we are looking for “water” that does not quite quench our thirst; it is the water of the material that leaves us increasingly dissatisfied. And we discover that living water that Jesus offers us; the living water of His love, of His saving message that holds within itself a promise of eternity.

Reflection Questions

What do I want to get out of Lent that will quench my thirst?

Am I ready to open myself up to Jesus and really discover who He is?


Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.