March 11, 2012
3rd Sunday of Lent
Today, at the 10 AM Mass, I proclaim the Gospel according to John, not of Jesus cleansing the temple in chapter 2, but of Jesus meeting the woman at the well in Samaria found in chapter 4. This Gospel is from Year A and has precedence in Year B when catechumens are preparing to receive the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion. After meeting a woman at Jacob's well, Jesus says to her: "Give me a drink." The request begins a conversation that will bring the woman to a deeper appreciation of the stream of living water that wells-up and flows not from this particular place but from Jesus who is the messiah. After discussing sacred places, Jesus tells her: "The hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth." Ashley and Barrett, our two catechumens, will soon be asked in their first scrutiny to examine their own lives and acknowledge evil and sin in the world. They will publicly stand before us and admit how we are distracted from entering more deeply into relationship with Jesus and experiencing God's life in him. The woman at the well in Samaria becomes our model and mentor. She runs back to the village inviting others to come and meet Jesus and believe in him. Ashley and Barrett invite us to renew our faith and to rediscover/re-enter the stream of life giving water in Jesus Christ.
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2nd Sunday of Lent
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4th Sunday of Lent
