Dear Parishioner,
On this Third Sunday of Lent, the Word of God speaks to us about thirst not only the thirst of the body, but the deeper thirst of the heart.
In the first reading, the people of Israel are in the desert and cry out for water. They are tired, frightened, and unsure if God is still with them. Moses strikes the rock, and water flows. It is a simple but powerful sign: even in a dry and difficult place, God provides.
In the Gospel, we meet another thirsty person, the Samaritan woman at the well. She comes for ordinary water, but she meets Jesus, who speaks to her about “living water.” Jesus gently helps her see that she has been coming back again and again to the same well, yet never truly satisfied. Her life has been shaped by searching for fulfilment in things that cannot really quench her deeper thirst.
This is something we can all recognise. We look for happiness in many places: success, comfort, relationships, possessions, or distractions. These things are not bad in themselves, but they cannot give us lasting peace. We may feel satisfied for a while, but then the thirst returns. Lent invites us to notice where we keep returning, hoping to feel full, yet still feeling empty.
Jesus does not judge the woman. He listens to her, speaks honestly with her, and slowly leads her to something greater. He tells her that true worship is not about being in the “right” place, not this mountain or that temple but about worshipping God “in spirit and truth.” In other words, God is not something we can fit neatly into our routines or control through rules alone. God is living, present, and personal. He wants a relationship with us.
This is the heart of Lent. It is not just about giving things up, but about making space for God. It is about allowing Jesus to point out, with kindness, the wells we keep going back to, which are our habits, attitudes, and comforts. These do not really give life.Then hearing him say to us, “Come to me. Let me give you living water.”
During this week of Lent, perhaps we can ask ourselves a few simple questions:
- Where do I look for peace and happiness?
- What do I turn to when I feel tired, worried, or empty?
- Am I making time for prayer, silence, and listening to God’s Word?
Like the Samaritan woman, we may begin by coming to Jesus with ordinary needs, but if we stay with him, he leads us deeper. She arrives alone and leaves full of joy, running back to her village to tell others about him. Meeting Jesus changes her direction and gives her new purpose.
May this Lent be a time when we allow Jesus to meet us at the well of our daily lives in our work, our worries, and our waiting. May he gently draw us away from what does not satisfy and lead us to the living water that brings life, hope, and renewal.
Yours in Christ,
Deacon Ian
