3rd Sunday of Lent, Cycle A I

1st Reading: Ex 17:3-7

Intro: The story of water from the rock when the newly freed Israelites complained about the lack of water in the desert and wondered if they had not been better off in slavery in Egypt. It is one of two accounts of the water from the rock. (The other account in Nu 20:11 is where he strikes it twice.) It is chosen today, probably to show the necessity of water for life and that God provides the true lifesaving water.

2nd Reading: Rom 5:1-2;5-8

Intro: The reading tells us of the justification we have won through faith in Christ. Notice its emphasis that Christ brought us justification while we were still sinners. Faith in Jesus puts us at peace with God and gives us His love through the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us, and all of this because of God’s love for us demonstrated in Jesus willingness to die for us.

Gospel: Jn 4:5-42

Summary: The woman at the well.

Homily:

1. Worship in Spirit and in truth (authenticity)

Note the connection between water and the spirit in this story. Note the connection between baptism & confirmation. Note that Jesus was anointed by the Spirit at his baptism and will baptize with the Spirit. Note how the Pauline letters and Acts of the Apostles speak of the work of the Spirit in individuals and the Church.

Note how, when she asked about worship, she was talking about temple sacrifice at the Jerusalem temple or their temple on mount Gerizim. Jesus, whose time is now here, became the true sacrifice and the Mass is the sacrifice in spirit and truth. (like the old translation of EP I used to say)

Look at the Mass – We hear the word of God’s love proclaimed to us through Scripture, we respond by offering sacrifice to God (we make our Lord’s sacrifice present to our day and time, like the seder makes the saving act of God present to the Jewish people, and we are invited by Canon Law and Church documents to join the sacrifice of our lives to his as we offer this combined sacrifice to the Father), we seal this covenant in our act of communion; and, then we are sent out to live our offering out in our day-to-day lives.

It is stated pretty plainly in these NT letters: Romans 12:1 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. And 1 Peter 2:5 and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.