March 19, 3rd Sunday of Lent

March 19, 2017

Third Sunday of Lent

Exodus 17:3–7; Romans 5:1–2, 5–8; John 4:5–42; 
John 4:5–15, 19b–26, 39a, 40–42

It is said that human beings can survive for a time without food. They say that one can survive for 3 weeks without food. But we can’t last long without water. One can survive only for a week without water. Our readings for today tell us about 3 characters who experienced thirst. Let us look at these three characters and reflect on what we can learn from them this season of Lent:

THE FIRST CHARACTER ARE THE THIRSTY ISRAELITES. In the first reading, we see the Israelites wandering in the desert. After God saved them from slavery in Egypt, they now begin their journey to the promised land. But something happened in the desert. Tormented by thirst, the people complained against Moses saying: “Has God forgotten us? Why did you lead us out of Egypt to die of thirst here in the desert?” Look at how thirst led the Israelites to easily forget the many good things that God has done for them. Isn’t this what sin is all about? Sin is forgetting God and forgetting how God has been good to us. But in midst of their grumbling, God enters as a compassionate and understanding God. God instructed Moses to use the same staff so that overflowing water will flow from the rock. It was as if God was telling them: “Do you remember how this staff saved you from slavery? Do you remember how this staff parted the waters of the sea? Do you remember now that I care much for you?”

If God were a human being, maybe the story would have changed. A human being will be hurt if his/her good deeds will be easily forgotten by someone. But not with God. God will never tire of saving us. God will never tire of allowing us to remember His goodness. The call conversion this Lent also involves this process of remembering - never forgetting the memories of how God has been good to us. Hopefully by remembering them, like the Israelites we turn to God and respond to the call to conversion.

THE SECOND CHARACTER IS THE THIRSTY SAMARITAN WOMAN IN THE GOSPEL. The conversation of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in the well led the woman to a realization that she is thirsting not only for water. The woman is thirsty for real love. She had five husbands and she is now living with another man who is not her husband. She is thirsty for real love, meaning and fulfillment in life. The woman was surprised because Jesus knew the truth about her life. She asks Jesus: “Who are you? Are you a prophet? How come you know about my life?” Perhaps this is the first time that the woman encounters a man who knows the truth about her life but does not condemn her. This man respects her. This man is compassionate towards her.   The call to conversion this Lent also involves our encounter with God who does not condemn us. When we come to realize our own sinfulness, and turn to the Lord for forgiveness, our God will not condemn us. He will be merciful and compassionate to us.

THE THIRD CHARACTER IS JESUS. He was physically tired and thirsty. But we later find out that His thirst illustrates God’s thirst for His people. Lent invites us to conversion – to quench God’s thirst for sinners to turn to the Lord. Pope Francis once said: “The Lord never tires of forgiving us. [The Lord never tires running after us. The Lord never tires of thirsting for us.] We are the ones who get tired coming to him to ask forgiveness.”  In this season of Lent, let us take to heart these words of Pope Francis. Let us not be afraid of the call to conversion. God is always there not to condemn us but to remind us and make us remember how great is His love, mercy and compassion for us sinners.  Amen.