Pastor’s Note

Third Sunday of Lent (A)

March 26/27, 2011

What is the importance of water?  What does it do?  It is life.  The word this week reminds us of that fact.  Jesus refers to himself as that water – a water that gives life, not only does it quench thirst, but it removes it.  Drinking mere water provides a temporary relief.  Life so many of the things that we do to face the issues we have in life, they are fleeting and passing. 

So often we rely on our own abilities to get us through life.  We fail to rely on Jesus who provides life to be our life.  We pay lip service to our God who tells us that he has life waiting for us.  All we need to do is claim it.  Like the woman at the well, we too must come to that well to meet the Lord.  The Church provides that meeting place, the well, where we are able to draw that life giving water.  It is the Church that is that meeting place.  The community of the faithful must be a place where we not only come to receive for ourselves, but we must also come to provide assistance for our brothers and sisters in need.  We all help each other to draw this water.

Jesus stands before us, ready to offer that life giving water.  He stands ready to offer that hope and joy that sustains our life.  Have you been faithful to your coming to the well to meet the Lord?  Have you been drawing that water of life?  Have you been helping your brother and sister who have been too weak to pull that bucket of water to the surface?  Have you been encouraging those about you?  Have you been drinking that water of life?  Do not let these opportunities of life pass you by. 

Come to the well.  Drink from the well.  Let He who is the water of life give you life.  Do not stay away from Him.  May He continue to give you life.  May your thirst be satisfied.

Monsignor Michael Lewis