“Your word was my delight and the joy of my heart”
Jeremiah 15:16
Duns Scotus Bible Centre
3rd Sunday of Lent (March 27)
Reflection for Penitential Rite: In today’s Gospel, we’ll hear of the Samaritan woman who trusts in the promise of eternal life that Jesus gives her. Let’s take a few minutes now to recall the times when we negated that trust by our actions or non-actions.
Reflection for Penitential Rite: In today’s Gospel, we’ll hear of the Samaritan woman who trusts in the promise of eternal life that Jesus gives her. Let’s take a few minutes now to recall the times when we negated that trust by our actions or non-actions.
Liturgy of the Word:
1st Reading: In the first reading, the people of Israel fear for their lives. Once again God teaches them to have faith.
2nd Reading: In the second reading, Paul reminds us that faith, hope and love are God’s gifts to us. Christ died for us though we are sinners, and the love of God has been poured forth into our lives by the Holy Spirit.
Gospel: In the Gospel, Jesus engages a Samaritan woman in a conversation about living water. He leads her to recognize and accept him as the Messiah.
Reflection on the Readings: Jesus is not trying to purposefully embarrass this woman. He is “killing her softly” in order to have her experience real conversion, to actually turn her life inside out. This is such an appropriate story for the Lenten season because it speaks of mortification, which means “putting to death.” The woman is mortified by what Jesus says about her life, but through letting go of her self-deception, she will see the possibilities of the new life he promises.
Reflection for Offertory: Turning to the eucharistic table, let’s move forward together in offering this sacrifice, remembering how the Samaritan woman ran to invite others to come and see what she had learned.