Third Sunday of Lent, First Scrutiny of the Elect
Also Read: Mass Readings for 23 March 2025 Sunday Reflection by Mike – 23 March 2025
First Reading: Exodus 17: 3-7
I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. (6)
In the wilderness, the people quarreled and complained against Moses! They were already freed from Egypt, but they still carried a slave mentality! They would rather prefer to remain in slavery and eat than be free! The people had already been provided with manna in the desert earlier. (v.16) Yet they begin grumbling again!
Let us remember that we ought to focus on the blessings in our lives. Even though difficulties may come, we ought to praise God in all circumstances. God provides for us every time we turn to him. We must remember that God offers us the solution stick, but we must be discerning when and where we must strike with it. He goes before us always. (Ex. 14:14) Let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide us to the rock at Horeb, so that we may obediently strike and act in humility to receive our drink. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 95: 1-2, 6-9
O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! (1) O that today you would listen to his voice!
Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your ancestors tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. (8-9)
Amen!
Second Reading: Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (6)
We are grateful to God that HE sent His only begotten son to redeem us. In God’s wondrous plan of salvation, he saves us humans by letting his Son die for us! This is an unfathomable mystery we may never fully understand! The life of faith that we live today, has been bought for us by the cost of the death of Jesus. We could never be able to redeem ourselves on our own merit. God redeemed us while we were still weak and gave us the means to become strong in Him.
Let us therefore remain steadfast and persevering in our faith-filled life! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Verse Before the Gospel: John 4: 42, 15
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”
Gospel: John 4: 5-42
The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it? (12)
First, we doubt -How can God do the impossible for me? What will be his strategy and which will be His instruments? But, let us learn from the villagers who heard and believed! (42)
The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.” (25-26)
Christ Jesus reveals himself to the doubting Samaritan woman! He also appeared first to another woman, Mary Magdalene after his resurrection! (Jn.20:11-18) Blessed are these women who encountered Jesus in their lives and bore witness to him! In revealing himself to the Samaritan woman, God also proclaims how worship would transcend a particular place! (21-24) We see how the church has fulfilled this prediction in the daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper and created a New Way of Worship for all who Believe in Him! Let us rejoice in being the new Samaritan villagers!
Let us ask the Lord to stay with us when we receive Him in the Holy Communion. Let us abide in Him who has the Living water, He is our Rock of Horeb. Let us not grumble or doubt, but ask in faith and with contrite hearts! For He said: “Ask and it shall be given….” (Mt. 7:7)
All that we thirst for is in HIM! IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN!
