3rd Sunday of Lent 2026
Exodus 17:3-7 Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 John 4:5-42
There is always something especially noteworthy when we use the Gospel of Saint John in our Sunday liturgies. When we read it during Lent it stands out even more. John admits (in John 21;25) that it is was not possible to include everything that Jesus said and did, so, he had to select carefully significant events and sayings of the Lord. Our Gospel today does not include any miracle or parable of Jesus but there are many lessons for us to learn from the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman. This was a most unlikely and unusual meeting. There had been a long history that separated Samaritans and Jews and caused much hostility between them.
Jesus and his disciples were returning from Galilee to Jerusalem, so they “had to pass through Samaria”. The noon day sun was hot; Jesus needed rest and water. The Samaritan woman, ashamed of her lifestyle and reputation came to the well when she expected to be alone. Divine Providence happens when our schemes and plans are overtaken by God’s plan! Whenever God seems to be calling on us we question, we find excuses, we disbelieve! Why would God ask me? The Samaritan woman could not, or did not understand why a Jew would ask her for a favour. There are numerous excuses and reasons why this request cannot be fulfilled. She continues to explore to whom she is speaking and gradually, by finding out more about herself, realises that the words she is hearing are those of “a prophet”. This woman is open to hearing what is being said to her. Despite her being a Samaritan and she recognising Jesus as a Jew (btw – the only time in the Gospels that Jesus is referred to as a Jew) she is prepared to acknowledge the presence of the long awaited Messiah.
Sometimes our intimate conversations with the Lord are interrupted and we are confused and annoyed. When the conversation between Jesus and this Woman is halted she immediately “put down her water jar and hurried back to the town to tell the people ‘Come and see a man who has told me everything I ever did: I wonder if he is the Christ?’”
The disciples returned – they were caught up with the material concerns of getting food and providing for the Lord. Again, God’s plan, God’s concern was elsewhere – the food that Jesus wants, is to do the work of God. The lesson for the disciples was to recognise all that they had been given by God through the work of others. Now they are to go out to sow the seeds of Faith in others.
The Samaritan woman had already learned that lesson. She realised that she had encountered her Lord and Messiah and at once had proclaimed Him. This brought people out of the town and they started walking towards Jesus. What a wonderful image of the mission of a disciple of the Lord.
Our Lenten spirituality could be described as being open to hear what God says to us personally; recognising our own selves and our strengths and weaknesses; sharing with others the gifts and insights with which we have been blessed. And our prayer of Praise is that of our Responsorial Psalm;
O that today we would listen to his voice!
Come, ring out our joy to the Lord.