Third Sunday of Lent – Year A (2026)
Sunday, March 8, 2026
On the Third Sunday of Lent, just before Laetare Sunday, the traditional midpoint of this holy season, we pause to examine our Lenten journey thus far. Have our fasts from comforts softened our hearts, as the rock struck by Moses in today’s Exodus reading? Have prayer and almsgiving drawn us deeper into God’s love, “poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” as St. Paul assures us? And in acts of mercy, have we become vessels of the living water Jesus promises the Samaritan woman? To deepen this reflection, revisit today’s readings: Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; and John 4:5-42. Let the plea in Psalm 95:6-8 stir you: “Enter, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, we are the people he shepherds, the sheep in his hands. Oh, that today you would hear his voice: Do not harden your hearts.” Open your heart to this divine invitation and His wisdom.
In Exodus, we encounter the Israelites after being liberated from the shackles of slavery as they wander in the desert. Parched with thirst, their desperation leads them to grumble against Moses, questioning why God would lead them out of Egypt only to die of thirst. Their complaint echoes a human frailty; when trials mount, we question God’s presence. Moses, feeling the weight of their complaints, turns to God for guidance. God instructs him to strike a rock at Horeb, and water gushes forth before the elders. This wasn’t merely water for survival; it was a sign of God’s presence and care for His people. In our longing for love, acceptance, peace, and purpose, or when we face challenges, trials, and temptations, do we turn to God and pray for guidance? Are we aware of His presence, walking with us, or carrying us through hardships? Do we put our trust in His love and care?
From Romans, we learn that through faith, we are justified and have peace with God through Jesus Christ. He says, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8. Paul reminds us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Our worth is not contingent upon our actions but is rooted in God’s love.
The Gospel recounts Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, offering her living water, a metaphor for eternal life. Living water evokes the image of bubbling water from a spring, symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s life-giving power. This echoes Paul’s words: “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.” — Romans 5:5. Consider the time and place of this encounter and the symbolism of Jesus speaking to a sinful woman, a Samaritan. Marked by mistakes and societal rejection, God has a purpose for her, and each of us, as she leads Samaritans of her town to believe in Christ because of her testimony. She became a vessel for His message of hope and redemption.
Let us embrace this Lenten season as a time of renewal, drawing ever closer to the wellspring of life that is Christ.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.