March 8, 2026
Discover the deeper meaning and connections found in this weeks' readings, through these great commentaries written by our priests.
Explore this weeks' readings and hear what God is saying to us through His Word.
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The story of the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan Woman in today’s gospel presents to us an encouraging truth of faith – Jesus approaches us with no intention to judge us, but to free us and satisfy the deepest longing of our hearts. The Samaritan woman was living a lonely life, as evidenced by her coming to the well at an odd hour with no one to talk to. In those days, the well was a place of encounter for the community. It was at this very moment of shame, loneliness and pain due to her past misfortunes that Jesus revealed himself to her as the one who lifts up the broken-hearted and rekindles hope.
- Jesus gently leads the Samaritan Woman to face the truth about her life, seeking not to condemn her but to free her.
- During Lent, we also make the effort to let God uncover our wounds so that He can heal us and restore our confidence. After the healing encounter with Jesus, the Samaritan Woman returns to her people, confidently speaking about Jesus (Cf. Gospel Reading).
- During their travels in the desert, the Israelites grew thirsty and demonstrated impatience and ingratitude towards God. However, God showed them compassion by quenching their thirst with miraculous water from a rock (Cf. 1st Reading).
- The rock in the first reading is a symbol of Christ, who provides not just earthly water, but the living water that cleanses and nourishes our souls.
- St Paul confesses that Christ came to the aid of humanity and offered his life despite the sinfulness of humanity (Cf 2ndReading). Jesus offered his life so that humanity may always be nourished with an abundance of grace that God alone can give.
- These graces come to us today principally through the Sacraments in which Jesus continues to be present and active in His Church (CCC, 1374).
- Let us pray that as we confess our lowliness this Lent, God may lift us up by His mercy (Cf Opening Prayer).
The entrance antiphon of the third Sunday of Lent expresses the shape of of human life in stark form: here are we, and there is God.
We begin: My eyes are always on the Lord... We live every moment of our lives in the presence of God. The difficulty, for most of us, is to realise this. We are all called to that unceasing prayer of which Saint Paul speaks, but the path to it is usually hard and long. Nevertheless, one step at a time, we must walk into the light of his face.
We continue: for he rescues my feet from the snare... The trials of life often turn us in God's direction, because we quickly learn we cannot deliver ourselves from trouble. And deliverance we need; from sins, from emotional disturbances, from problematic relationships.
Therefore we pray: Turn to me and have mercy on me... God often seems to be looking the other way. But we need to ask whether it is not we who are looking in the wrong direction; or do we even have our eyes tightly shut? We need to remind ourselves continually that God is merciful, that he is love. His desire to help is always greater than our desire to be helped.
We conclude: for I am alone and poor. We are alone because separated from God. We are poor because lacking the true riches. Dame Julian of Norwich teaches us where these are found: God of thy Goodness, give me thyself, for Thou art enough to me. And I may never ask anything that is less that may be full worship to Thee. And if I ask anything that is less, ever me wantith, but only in Thee I have all.
BIDDING PRAYERS
Let us pray for a spirit of penance and prayer.
Let us pray for all overburdened by the trials of life, that the Lord may remain close to them, and open their eyes and their hearts to his merciful love.
Let us pray for the faithful departed that they maybe transformed from one degree of glory to another by the Lord who is the Spirit.
These hymns have been chosen from different sources:
Like as the deer yearns (CFD370, L219, LHON432)
As the deer longs (CFE53, L214)
I heard the voice of Jesus say (L795)
There is a river that flows from God above (CFE722, LHON667)
Key
CFE - Celebration Hymnal for Everyone
L – Laudate
LHON – Liturgical Hymns Old and New (Mayhew, 1999)
TCH – The Catholic Hymnbook (Gracewing)
Do you have questions about the liturgy and how we are called to participate in it? Explore how the Church councils, saints, and popes have answered this key question and many more.
Every movement of the Mass is rich in meaning but we can become over familiar with it. Rediscover the Mass and explore how it relates to the Exodus story, where many of its rituals come from, and how it makes Jesus present to us today.
