Sunday Reflections - THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT – YEAR A

LIGHT FOR THE LIVING

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT – YEAR A

(Exodus 17:3–7; Romans 5:1–2, 5–8; John 4:5–42)

My beloved in Christ,

In a small community in Mbaitolu LGA of Imo State, there once lived a woman called Mama Nkem who was famous for her sharp tongue and quicker temper. Every morning she went to the village stream to fetch water, but everyone in the village knew that if you met Mama Nkem there, you had to prepare for argument—even if you only said “Good morning.”

One hot afternoon, as she struggled with her heavy water pot, an elderly traveler resting under a mango tree called out gently,
“My daughter, please, can I have a cup of water?”

Mama Nkem looked at him suspiciously and replied,
“You want water? Do you know how far I trekked to fetch it?”

The old man smiled calmly and said,
“If you give me water today, I will show you where you will never suffer to fetch water again.”

Mama Nkem laughed loudly.
“In Mbaitolu? Water that will not finish? My brother, the sun must have beaten your head.”

But curiosity pushed her to listen. As the man explained patiently, she suddenly realized something: sometimes the greatest blessing arrives disguised as a simple request.

That day she returned home telling everyone she met,
“Come and hear what I heard today!”

 

Water in the Desert

The story reminds us of today’s First Reading. The Israelites were thirsty in the desert and complained bitterly:

“Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst?”
(Exodus 17:3)

In response, God instructed Moses to strike the rock:

“Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink.”
(Exodus 17:6)

Even when the people doubted Him, God still provided. The place was named Massah and Meribah because the people questioned:

“Is the Lord in our midst or not?”
(Exodus 17:7)

 

The Living Water

In the Gospel, Jesus Christ meets a Samaritan woman at the well and asks her for water:

“Give me a drink.”
(John 4:7)

What begins as a simple conversation becomes a profound revelation. Jesus tells her:

“Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst.”
(John 4:14)

Jesus is speaking about the living water of grace, the life that comes from God and satisfies the deepest thirst of the human soul.

When the woman realizes who He is, her life changes immediately.

 

From Encounter to Mission

Scripture says:

“The woman left her water jar and went into the town.”
(John 4:28)

She begins to invite others:

“Come see a man who told me everything I have done.”
(John 4:29)

An encounter with Christ always leads to transformation and mission.

 

God’s Love for Sinners

Saint Paul reminds us in the Second Reading:

“God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8)

Jesus does not wait for us to become perfect before loving us. His love reaches us even in our weakness and draws us into grace.

 

Light for the Living Today

The Samaritan woman did not keep the good news to herself. She shared it with her town.

Our encounter with Christ in prayer, Scripture, and the Eucharist must also lead us to witness. Evangelization often begins with the simplest place: our family, our friends, and our neighbours.

 

Sunday Reflection

My beloved,
Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, where He offered her the water of life and revealed His divine identity, made her not only believe in Jesus but also invite others to encounter Him as well.

Let our encounter with Jesus today change us to believe in Him and become the children of grace we are called to be, for He died because of His love for us despite our sinful nature.

Remember, it is our responsibility to share the good news with others just as the Samaritan woman did.

Can you begin with your family and friends?

May God bless you.

Happy Sunday.

Rev. Fr. Chinedu Ibearugbulem, C.S.Sp