HOMILY: Third Sunday of Lent (A)
John 4:5-15
12 March 2023
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA
Have you ever made an effort to avoid certain people because you feel judged? That’s exactly what the woman in the gospel does! She went to the well at noon, instead of the usual early morning, probably to avoid the “gossipmongers” (“marites”). It is not surprising that her affairs interest others foremostly because, she is a Samaritan and their kind is not accepted by the Jews. Second, her love life is quite an issue as she has been with a number of men.
In her conversation with Jesus, we can observe that she has no awareness nor shame over her practice of immorality. Indeed, when we have become so used to a sinful pattern of living, we can become blind to what we need to correct. We continue to sin because we are numb to our sin. At times, we can be as stubborn and stiff-necked as the people in the wilderness whom Moses had a really hard time dealing with. They were saved from slavery in Egypt; Yet, they still had the proclivity to get angry, to demand and grumble the moment they experience thirst. Despite, their ill behaviour, God provides water for them. As Moses strikes his staff on the rock, water flows out fit for them to drink. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we can also be way too stubborn for our own good. Yes, we are invited to listen to people who truly care for us so that we can get out of certain patterns of behaviour that deter us from truly becoming the persons God intended us to be.
Only the sincere concern of Jesus enlightened the Samaritan woman. He recognises that she has been filling the void in her life with unhealthy relationships. Jesus offers her living water. He says that whoever drinks it will never go thirsty and it will become a spring within them welling up to eternal life. Despite her sins, Jesus offered her a lifelong solution to her thirst. Her decision to acknowledge her shortcomings and eventually open her heart to Jesus brings her a new lease on life.
The gospel challenges us to think about where we have gone astray. We must find courage to let go of our sinful patterns of behaviour and to choose to be found in the Lord. Let us remember that Christ’s coming into the world made no sense to those who had no need for Him (those who thought they were already righteous). Jesus came for those who knew they had sinned and were aware that they needed to be saved from their own transgressions. The Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus brought about healing and transformation.
Consequently, the Samaritan woman’s conversion moved her to be a herald of the Good News to her community. She returned to their place and told the story of her encounter with Jesus as the Messiah. They invited Jesus to the town and He stayed there for two days! Her testimony brought the people to a deeper faith in Jesus. The people professed their new-found faith in Him saying, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the saviour of the world.” (John 4:42) Like her, our relationship with the Lord must lead us to a more zealous proclamation and living out of the Good News.
Brothers and sisters, we are sinners, but Jesus loves us so much despite our unworthiness. This is what St. Paul speaks about in the Second Reading. “God proves his love to us…that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Let us open ourselves to God’s transforming grace so that our lives may be a visible testament of the Good News for others.
Artwork by Blair C. Nuyda, AA
Sunday Gospel Reflections 