​​​​​Holy Infant Catholic Church

Father Michaels Weekly Thoughts

               WEEKLY THOUGHTS THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT MARCH 8th 2026

Dear friends, welcome to the celebration of the Third Sunday of our Lenten Journey leading us to the celebration of the suffering, death and glorious resurrection of Jesus. In the Gospel Reading of last Sunday, we heard of the voice of the Father at the transfiguration; “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Let us be attentive to listen to the voice of the Spirit of Jesus speaking to us at the mountain of silent prayer, meditation, scripture reading and study.

The Gospel reading of this Sunday is taken from John 4: 5-42. It is about the interaction of Jesus with a Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob, where the Samaritan woman had come to draw water in the hot hours of noon. Jesus had this conversation that looked unlawful or even unacceptable to Jewish norms. Samaritans had a Jewish ancestry. They had intermarried with foreigners when under the Assyrian rule. The Jews refused Samaritan help in the rebuilding of the Temple at Jerusalem. The Samaritans built their Temple at Gerizim and believed in the coming of the Messiah.

Jesus knew the spiritual need of the Samaritan woman. He uses physical water as a starter. “Will you give me a drink?” Jesus promised to give her living water- that gives eternal life, hence superior to that at the well- that gives temporary relief.

Jesus revealed himself to the Samaritan woman as the expected Messiah to be worshipped in Spirit and Truth regardless of the locations and race.

With great excitement, she left behind her water jar and ran back to Sychar to share her experience and news of interaction with the Messiah. “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman enabled her to become a   believer and disciple of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah for Jews and non-Jews.

The Samaritan woman after her conversion becomes a great missionary among her own people- the Samaritans. They believe Jesus as the Messiah for all people.

God’s mercy and love is beyond compare and has no limits. It is inclusive to all with faith and all who seek God in truth and spirit.

Let us continue to pray for peace in the Middle East and other war-torn areas like Ukraine and Congo.

Have a great week and God bless.