Lent is a special time for conversion, repentance and change of heart.

Third Sunday of Lent.

First Reading. Ex. 17: 3-7.

The journey through the desert was long and difficult. People began to complain when they did not have water to drink and God listened to the cry of His people.

Second Reading. Rom. 5: 1, 2, 5-8.

Through the salvific death of Jesus Christ, God raised man from his sinfulness with the out pouring of His love into man’s heart through the Holy Spirit.

Gospel. Jn. 4: 5-42.

Here the story of Jesus with the Samaritan woman is presented. Breaking all rules Jesus asks this woman for some water. In return He promises her living water. The woman is surprised how Jesus knows her personal life. Here Jesus proclaims that salvation is for all mankind. To his disciples, Jesus says that His food is the mission of His Father. He needs to reap the harvest of His labor.

Reflection.

Lent is a special time for conversion, repentance and change of heart. It is a time to die with Christ and rise up with Him in glory. The sacrament of baptism which the Christians receive bears this meaning. It is dying to man’s own self and rising up in Christ to victory. Man is bathed or immersed in water to signify the cleansing of the ‘Old Man ‘in him and the coming out of the water signifies the ‘New Man’ in Christ.

God’s mercy can be experienced more especially during this season. Even the marginal Christens seem to pay heed to the call of the master to repentance. This is seen through many unfamiliar faces that you see in church during this season. The mercy of God is irresistible and infectious. People are bound to show it to those who have to yet experienced it.

In today’s first reading we see God showing His mercy to an ungrateful people. Time and again they were unfaithful to the covenant of Yahweh; they forgot what God in His goodness had done for them.

The slightest discomfort made them complain. But God tolerates His people. This should teach us to practice tolerance in our lives too. It must also teach us to avoid grumbling at the thing and be appreciative of God’s goodness shown directly or indirectly.

According to the second reading; God in his outpouring generosity and love sends His only Son to be the victim for man’ salvation. Man is fact does not deserve God’s sympathy. An interesting question to ask from ourselves would be how do we dispense mercy?

What credit can we claim for dispensing it to those who deserve it? Have we genuinely tried to be merciful in our outlook and dispense mercy even when people do not deserve it? The incident at the outskirts of Samaria is a very eloquent testimony of the mercy of Jesus to those who were considered enemies by the Jews. The woman was living in sin, knowing all facts Jesus begins His mercy mission in human terms and proclaims liberty eventually.

We often try to work out our personal or community salvation at the expense of the other people. If the receiving party is at logger heads the situation became hysterical. But Jesus opens the avenues of freedom to all alike; friends or foe, Jew or Gentile, black or white….etc. The Samaritan woman finds in Jesus and understanding friend who is ready to begin discussing human issues like a man and not as God. Very many of us discuss other people’s ‘juicy’ issues as if we were not men but some super human person.

Jesus thirsts for souls in disarray. That is why He said on the cross, “I Thirst.” The thirst of Jesus is quenched with conversion of hearts; those who receive mercy from Jesus never thirst for their experience a lasting fulfillment. The Samaritan woman ran to the village, full of conviction; and with her thirst now quenched, she proclaims the giver of living water.

Let us approach Jesus for mercy. In that living experience let us dispense mercy so that we may be merciful as the heavenly Father is merciful.

Aid Story.

The devil summoned his daemons to a council of war, how best to get mankind to do his will. “Send me” said one “I will tell them there is no God.” “They know there is,” was the answer. “They would never believe you.” “Send me.” said another, “I will tell them there is no hell.” “Even if they believe you, they will still hope for heaven.” “Send me” said the third. “I will tell them that there is no hurry.” That was greeted as a grand idea. The third demon was sent out into the world and has labored with great success ever since. So today’s temptation is that there is no hurry for us to give up sin and become holy.

Aid Story 2.

There was a great sinner who lost the meaning of living and wanted to slip from a clip and collapse. On the way he halted to meet one priest. He narrated the sad story of his life; how little he loved God and served human beings; how he broke the commandments and misled people. He said his sins were too numerous to plead for mercy from God. The priest tried to convince him of God’s mercy and love. He said, “My heart is like a bucket full of holes. As soon as God pours out His graces; it leaks out completely.” But the priest replied; “Perhaps, it is your heart which is like that bucket but once it is thrown into the ocean of the love of God it makes no difference whether it has holes or not; it is sunk in God’s ocean of love and mercy.

Fr. Ciswan De Croos.

Marian year.

Modern times are dominated by Satan and will be more so in the future. The conflict with hell cannot be won by men, even the most clever. The Immaculata alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan. However, now that she is assumed into heaven, the Mother of God requires our cooperation. She seeks souls who will consecrate themselves entirely to her, who will become in her hands powerful instruments for the defeat of Satan and the extension of the Kingdom of God. (St. Maximilian Kolbe)