Homily – Third Sunday of Lent (A)

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults – First Scrutiny

We are entering the Third Sunday of Lent.  The Gospel readings in Year A for the last three weeks of Lent – 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays – are specifically structured for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), aligning with the three Scrutinies.  These readings provide opportunities for the catechumens and candidates to reflect on three very important aspects of who Jesus is: the Living Water, the Light of the World, and the Resurrection and the Life.  These themes are revealed through the stories of the Samaritan woman at the well, the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus.

Looking into these accounts in John’s Gospel, one finds a Jesus who does not hesitate to declare who he is.  He does not ask his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” as he does in the Synoptic Gospels.  Rather, he actively declares: I am the Living Water, I am the Light of the World, I am the Resurrection and the Life.  Br. Paul Creevy, in our Lenten Reflection series over the last two Thursday nights in our parish, continually re-emphasised this very fact: that Jesus in John’s Gospel is always proactive in his mission.  He is in total control of any situation or encounter.  “My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4) is his response to his mother at the wedding at Cana.  “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:20) is Jesus’ response to Andrew and Philip.  “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again” (John 10:18).  Here, Jesus uses the metaphor of the shepherd to explain his mission to his disciples.

In the account of the woman of Samaria at the well, which we will hear this week, we also encounter a Jesus who is proactive in his subtle approach to the woman, despite the barriers of ethnic, religious, and political conflicts that had existed for many centuries between Jews and Samaritans.  Jesus initiates the encounter in a humble way: “Give me a drink.”  He does not begin with something that might embarrass her because of her personal and desperate search for meaning in life.  This simple initiation by Jesus leads to a wonderful encounter and a life-changing dialogue.  After her very personal encounter with Jesus, the woman could not keep the experience to herself: “The woman left her water jar and went back to the city.  She said to the people, ‘Come and see’” (John 4:29).

Running back to her village to share the good news, with so much hope in her heart, this woman becomes a powerful image for us in this Lenten season.  At times, we too need to open ourselves and allow the Lord to initiate those profound encounters with us.  Through these encounters, we may discover opportunities for meaningful conversations – ones that allow us to discover more deeply the reality of who God truly is for us.  It is there that our hearts can be filled with hope and peace.

God is proactive.  God is in control.  God is in charge – let Him be.

By Fr Sang Ho