12 March 2023 – 3rd Sunday of Lent (Year A)

by Fr Joachim Robert

Dear friends,

In both of today’s readings, or the three readings of today, it speaks about ‘thirsty‘.

The First Reading invites us to think and to reflect on how the people of Israel grumbled in their journey towards the homeland. In the book of Exodus, it reminds us that the grumbling at Massah and Meribah made them doubt God.

And the Gospel, this long but beautiful Gospel, tells us once again of the thirst that the woman was craving for, this thirst that the woman had to draw water from the well. But Jesus was there, perhaps thirsting for her soul, thirsting for that living water to be given to her.

And as we look at our own journey, dear friends, the journey that we have taken, especially as we look at the lives of so many of our Catechumens after their Rite of Election. They are now prepared to be scrutinised so that they can make their preparations towards Easter for their baptism.

And again, that deep desire and that deep thirst that is in our hearts resonates in us because we see in our own lives, we see in our own journey how the Lord draws us towards Himself. And as He draws us towards Himself, we must also be confident of the providence that He provides for us.

And very often we thirst. And when we thirst, we want to quench ourselves with water. And the question that we need to ask ourselves:-

How have we quenched our thirst? Have we allowed the word of God, the living God, the living spring of God to quench us? Or are we allowing ourselves to be quenched by all the things of the world?

And I was reflecting on this Gospel, and I was speaking to a fellow priest as well, one of the things that came to mind is how, in this time of Lent, of fasting, alms giving and prayer, we thirst so much.

One of the things that we spoke about was that when during the time of the MCO, many of us went to buy many many many things so that we can feel secure, so that we can have provisions for us rather than from God. So that realisation, that reflections continue as we see how we look at fasting.

So as you can see, when we fast, do we fast because we want to depend on God or do we fast because we want to fill ourselves, fill our bellies so that we are able to get through the day?

And I think it is something for us to reflect upon. Because if we are fasting to not eat but at breakfast or perhaps for one meal we eat double meals so that we can carry through the day, then that intentions, that motivation of fasting makes us realise that we are fearful as well. We are fearful because we want to depend on ourselves rather than depending on God.

In the same way of how the Exodus journey makes us realise of that grumbling that the people in that point of time did not depend on God but relied on themselves.

So as we move in our Lenten journey, dear friends, in our journey of fasting, alms giving and prayer, are we allowing to entrust our lives to God and to make Him at the centre of everything that we do? Because during Lent we are called to depend on God even more and to ensure that the providence comes from Him.

Perhaps we also need to look at our own selves as well in terms of how we relate to the environment. The way we plunder the earth thinking there is no tomorrow. We continue to consume and consume and consume to the extent that we think we are all that matters. But do we allow this time of grace during Lent to acknowledge that what God has given to us is enough, what God has given to us is sufficient, what God has given to us is providential?

So as we take a re-look at our own journey towards Lent in these remaining days, let us ask ourselves:-

Have we lived our life in our total self-sufficiency or are we living our life in total dependence on God?

And the desire that we see in each and every one of our candidates where God has placed that thirst in their hearts and they are making the step forward to draw closer and closer in quenching their thirst in the way that God calls them. And as they continue to quench, it is also a reminder for you and I to quench our own thirst as well during this season of Lent. Because just as the woman was at the well, Jesus was waiting at the well, inviting her to draw her out of herself and make her taste the living water. And Jesus wants to give you the living water, dear friends, especially during this time of Lent that we are able to realise God’s providence and God’s love in our lives.

And this short video that we will be seeing in a while also invites us to reflect on how do we care for our environment. God has given us enough. God has given us all the land can produce for our use. But do we use it responsibly? Do we use it with thinking of the future and of us? Or are we plundering each and every thing so that we are self-sufficient and we think that we do not need God with us.

Let us pray for this grace during this Lent to take step forward in entrusting our life to the providence of God as He leads us into a deeper relationship with Him, especially during this Lent.

On how we have been responsible in satisfying our own personal needs, are we also making choices that also reflects on the humanitarian aspect of the people around us? And perhaps this is something that we need to continue to grow in. We may not have the full answers for every situations of life, especially in terms of environment but let us start with our own selves in terms of making responsible choices for the sake of others and for the sake of the environment.

Click below to listen to homily and watch video:–

Click to live-stream Mass on 12 March 2023