March 8, 2026~ 3rd Sunday of Lent ~ Year A
Spiritual Reflection
March 8, 2026~ 3rd Sunday of Lent ~ Year A (PDF)
Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar…Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. Jn 4:5-8
Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman was something extraordinary. It was noon, when the scorching heat was at its peak; therefore, nobody would walk to the well to fetch water. And yet, who comes to the well seeking water? None other than an extraordinary Newcomer.
According to Jewish custom, a man was not allowed to speak to a foreign woman. Moreover, he was not supposed to ask such a woman for a drink of water or, for that matter, any kind of assistance. . . The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jn 4:6-9).
These first few words of the Gospel indicate that the Samaritan woman was aware of her inferiority connected to a certain trait of simplicity. It was this simplicity that compelled her to openly ask this question that had formed within her heart.
Upon seeing this woman’s posture, Jesus struck up a conversation, using words that made up a kind of riddle. “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have asked him and he would have given you living water’” (Jn 4:10). The Samaritan woman again asked a simple question, which led to further clarification: “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water?” (Jn 4:11). At this moment, the posture of a child was born in the Samaritan woman because when a child does not grasp something, then a child asks a question with pure simplicity. Then, when a child receives the answer to his question, he accepts it because he believes what he is told is true, even if he does not understand everything. The Samaritan woman did likewise. . .
This woman, rejected by society because of her sins, and filled with pain because of her own wretchedness, received Christ’s answer with hope. She so desperately needed help and she so desperately needed to be rescued that she was ready to believe the words uttered by this extraordinary traveler, even though they seemed to be completely illogical, were indeed completely true…Only someone like the Samaritan woman, like a child hopefully awaiting a rescue, is able to receive the promise contained within Christ’s words. It is precisely this childlike wisdom that prompted the Samaritan woman to take advantage of the situation, opening herself to God by asking Him for this extraordinary water.
Jesus noticed the Samaritan woman’s increasing faith and accepted the invitation of this child who opened the door of her heart to Him. As a result, He revealed the extent of His omnipotent wisdom to her by conveying that He knew the truth about that which was hiding inside the whitewashed tomb of her soul…
Once again, we see the extraordinary simplicity in the posture of this sinful woman. The Samaritan woman did not try to hide the truth about her illicit relationship with the man with whom she lived. She answered Jesus in accordance with truth…
Seeing this truth about the interior of her whitewashed tomb, the Samaritan woman was not preoccupied with her sins or herself; rather, she asked Jesus how she should pray and worship God…
Jesus’ answer was certainly unclear to the Samaritan woman. She received it, though, with childlike trust. She admitted her great faith a moment later by professing that when the Messiah came, He would manifest everything to human hearts. At that moment the light shone in its fullness and Jesus exclaimed to her: “I am he, the one who is speaking with you” (Jn 4:26). There must have been in the Samaritan woman a great hunger for God and for His grace because Jesus was able to bestow an extraordinary grace upon her. And not only did he bestow this grace upon the Samaritan woman, but upon those who had previously despised her.
S.C. Biela, Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock, pp.70-75
References from the Catechism of the Catholic Church
2001 The preparation of man for the reception of grace is already a work of grace. This latter is needed to arouse and sustain our collaboration in justification through faith, and in sanctification through charity. God brings to completion in us what he has begun, "since he who completes his work by cooperating with our will began by working so that we might will it:" 50Indeed we also work, but we are only collaborating with God who works, for his mercy has gone before us. It has gone before us so that we may be healed, and follows us so that once healed, we may be given life; it goes before us so that we may be called, and follows us so that we may be glorified; it goes before us so that we may live devoutly, and follows us so that we may always live with God: for without him we can do nothing.
Questions for Reflection
1. What is my predominant attitude when facing my sinfulness, weaknesses and insecurities? How open is the door of my heart?
2. Every day I live in the presence of God’s light. What life event this week has helped me come to more understanding of this Gospel?
3. How did Blessed Mother’s life show her childlike simplicity? How can I turn to my Mother when I am thinking according to human logic?
Prayer after Sharing
Thank you, God, for allowing me to see the truth about my weaknesses and how it calls upon the abyss of your merciful Love.
