3rd Sunday of Lent
Give me a drink. The theme of water running through the readings today reminds us of how essential water is to us. The Israelites knew it. The people living in cities with compromised water systems know it all too well. We may only become aware when we are deprived of water due to our water being shut off, reminding us how essential what we take for granted is.
Is the Lord in our midst or not? Thirst and the need for water caused the people to grumble and question God. He responds by providing water from the rock. Once again, he shows his presence in a tangible way to his people.
Jesus offers the Sarmatian woman living water — pure water that will not run out. She is gifted through her willingness to enter into a conversation with him with an encounter with the living water Jesus gives her. Through her questions, she realizes that she is being accepted by him and is led to the belief that he is the long-awaited Messiah.
We, like the Israelites and the Samaritan woman, know what it is to thirst for meaning, for hope, for knowing we are loved and held safe. We find that hope being poured into our hearts by the Spirit we have received in the waters of baptism and by the gift of Eucharist, allowing us to have that profound personal encounter with Christ. And still, at times, we question is the Lord in our midst or not.
Lent gives us the opportunity to become more aware of how we can encounter the Lord through prayer and spending time with Scripture. Through offering ourselves as life-giving water to the lonely, those seeking a place to call home, and victims of violence or abuse.
How can I become more aware of the Lord in our midst?
Let us pray:
Lord, during this Lenten journey, increase our thirst for your life-giving water. May your Spirit touch our hearts so that, like the catechumens preparing for baptism, we may turn to you and be embraced by your love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Eucharistic Reflection – Center for Eucharistic Evangelizing (eucharisticevangelizing.com)
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