Homily 3rd Sunday of Lent Year A I Homily 8 March 2026 Year A

Exodus 17:3-7; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8, John 4:5-42

All of us know what it feels like to be thirsty—not just for water, but for reassurance,

understanding, and hope. My dear on this Third Sunday of Lent in Year A, the readings

speak to our deepest thirst. Through the desert, the cross, and the well, God reveals a

love that does not abandon us, even when our faith is weak.

The first reading taken from the book of Exodus is set during Israel’s journey through

the desert after their liberation from slavery in Egypt. God had already shown His power

through miracles, yet the people now face a severe shortage of water at Rephidim. The

desert becomes a place of testing—not only of physical endurance, but of faith and trust

in God. At first glance, it is easy to judge the Israelites for their constant complaining.

They grumble against Moses and even accuse God, asking, “Is the Lord among us or

not?” But if we are honest, we must admit that we too have stood in the same place.

Though we condemn the Israelites today, there are moments in our own lives when we

have complained against God, questioned His presence, or felt abandoned in times of

suffering. Like them, we often forget God’s past faithfulness when we are overwhelmed

by present difficulties. When prayers seem unanswered, when life becomes dry and

painful, our trust weakens. The most striking part of this passage is not the people’s

failure, but God’s response. God does not punish the Israelites for their complaints.

Instead, He asks Moses to strike the rock, and water flows abundantly. This reveals

a God who is patient, compassionate, and merciful—one who meets His people even in

their doubt and frustration. As we journey through the Third Sunday of Lent, this

reading calls us to recognize our own spiritual thirst. We thirst for peace, healing,

meaning, and hope. Lent encourages us not to turn our thirst into bitterness, but into

prayer and trust. May this Lenten season help us move from complaint to faith, from

accusation to surrender, trusting that God is truly among us, even in our deserts.

In the second reading taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, St. Paul reminds the

early Christian community what God has done for them through Jesus Christ. Paul is

writing to believers who are facing struggles, misunderstandings, and suffering. He

wants them to understand that faith in Christ has changed their relationship with God

forever. Paul begins by saying that we are justified by faith. This means that we are

made right with God not because we are perfect, but because we trust in Jesus.

Through Christ, we now have peace with God. This peace is not simply the absence of

problems; it is the deep assurance that God is on our side, even when life is difficult.

Paul also speaks of grace, God’s free and loving gift, in which we now stand. Paul then

acknowledges a painful truth: life includes suffering. But suffering does not have the

final word. God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Even in

hardship, God is present within us, giving strength, hope, and endurance. The most 

powerful part of this reading is Paul’s reminder of how God loves us. Christ did not die

for us when we were good or deserving. He died for us while we were still sinners.

This shows that God’s love is not something we earn; it is something we receive. God

does not wait for us to change before loving us—His love is what helps us change. This

passage invites us to trust deeply in God’s love. During moments of guilt, weakness, or

suffering, we are reminded that God’s love remains constant. In Christ, we stand in

grace, held by a love that will never fail.

There is something interesting about human beings - We all long to be fully known and

loved and at the same time we fear being rejected. We all want someone to understand

us fully, but we do not want to be judged. The encounter between Jesus and the

Samaritan woman shows us that such a meeting is possible—with God Himself. This

Gospel is not just about a woman at a well; it is about how God meets human

brokenness with mercy. Jesus chooses to pass through Samaria, a place avoided by

others. Jesus goes where others refuse to go. He seeks out those who are ignored,

misunderstood, or written off. The woman comes to the well carrying more than a water

jar—she carries a heavy past, unspoken shame, and unanswered questions about God.

When Jesus speaks of “living water,” He is addressing her deepest thirst, not her

physical one. This thirst is for dignity, meaning, love, and acceptance. Like her, we often

try to satisfy this thirst with things that never truly last. The turning point of the encounter

comes when Jesus reveals that He knows everything she has done. Jesus does not

discover her past—He already knows it. Yet He still speaks to her. He still listens. He

still offers her living water. God’s knowledge of our sins does not push Him away from

us; rather, it draws Him closer in mercy. For the woman, being fully known does not lead

to rejection but to freedom. For the first time, her truth is spoken in love. This is why she

can say, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have done.” What once might

have been a source of shame becomes the foundation of her witness. This encounter

also reveals something profound about worship and faith. Jesus tells her that true

worship is not about place or ritual alone, but about worshipping in spirit and truth.

God desires honest hearts, not perfect ones. On this Third Sunday of Lent, the Church

invites us to ask: What are we thirsty for? Are we afraid to let Jesus see the truth of our

lives? This Gospel assures us that Jesus already knows—and still loves. When we

allow Jesus to see the truth of our lives, we discover that His knowing gaze is not one of

judgment, but of love. And like the Samaritan woman, we are sent forth—no longer

hiding, but living as witnesses to the living water that truly satisfies. This week we are

invited to stop hiding, to sit with Jesus at the well, and to trust that His gaze is always

one of love. May God bless us all.