Dear Friends
So Mother Nature gitfed us with another taste of winter this past Friday/Saturday! No matter what some may think, the landscape of our “world” looked beautiful with all the snow covering the trees. Ironically, friends from Melbourne, Australia called on that Friday sharing they were in the midst of high temperatures! There we go, from one side of the world to another... Well, it is March somewhere!!!
Our Third Week of Lent offers from the Gospel of John the narrative of the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus startles this woman when He says to her “Give me a drink.” She responds saying “How can you a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”
In this period of time there was no love loss between Jews and Samaritans. Nonetheless, Jesus knows what her life is about and He is about to change it around for the better. She has a cruel loneliness in her life. The person of Jesus encountering her at the well offers her in their conversation the gifts of hope, forgiveness, and understanding.
At this ancient well with much history, Jesus speaks of the water He can provide, “living water”, that will satisfy all her thirsts. As their conversation progresses, she reveals an understanding that one day a Messiah will come. Jesus tells her that He is the Messiah she awaits.
As we go forth in our Lenten spiritual journey, are there areas of our lives that need hope, forgiveness and understanding like the Samaritan woman? Is there a loneliness or void in ourselves, that, if we allow, Jesus can provide “living water” that will quench and satisfy all our “thirsts?” What are we thirsting for? What “living water” that Jesus desires to share with us can we ask Him for? As the Samaritan woman understood the Messiah will tell us everything, are we ready to listen to Him? Let us pray that we will accept Him and the “living water” He desires us to partake of.
Already, we are nearing the half-way mark into our Lent. How has it been going for you? Are you in a growing relationship with Jesus? Are you looking forward to, as I am, our Holy Week where we will be invited to engage in His Passover, Passion, and Resurrection?
This very weekend some very wonderful people are gathering at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua for a “SEARCH” Retreat. Our teens and adults are spending some valuable time in the presence of the Lord Jesus and one another exploring a theme entitled “FULLY KNOWN, FULLY LOVED.”
Their commitment to this retreat will bless them, by their participation and our prayers. They will “BECOME… FORVER CHANGED” in heart and spirit by giving this sacred time to the Lord. I am looking forward to celebrating mass and Reconciliation with them Saturday evening. Please, continue to keep these sisters and brothers of Jesus in your prayers.
My friends, I pray, you are feeling the fruits of this Lent and are being drawn closer to the joys of why you seek to be in relationship with Jesus Christ!
Keeping you in my prayer and blessing,
Father Rob