(Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-2,5-8; John 4:5-42)

This Lent, we have restarted watching The Chosen, which is a dramatised version of how Jesus called the disciples interlinked with Gospel accounts. One of the episodes this week was the Gospel we have just heard. This helped me not only to visualise the scene and the discourse between Jesus and the Samaritan woman but also to see how the woman’s encounter with Jesus changed her. She went from a woman who was shunned by her neighbours to telling everyone about Jesus.

It also reminded me of a trip to Goa in 2018, where we visited a church with life size models of this scene from Jacob’s well. In that scene the Samaritan woman had the image of several men on her back to demonstrate her life before she met Jesus.

The Scripture readings today remind us of our Baptism, by water and the Holy Spirit. In the first reading from Exodus, we hear how the people rebelled against Moses and against God, by complaining that they would have been better off staying in Egypt to be slaves, as at least they had water to drink. God instructed Moses how to provide water, which saved their lives.

In St Paul’s letter to the Romans, we hear that “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” In our Baptism we enter the grave with Jesus and rise again with Him. St Paul reminds us that Christ died for us even though we are sinners.

In the Gospel we have the discourse between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. There is so much in this passage, for example, the Jews had nothing to do with the Samaritans, in fact they despised each other. In those days, a Jewish man would not approach a woman who was alone, he would certainly not ask her for a drink. The Samaritan woman, who we discover was not one for keeping to convention; points out how Jesus is not complying with custom. Jesus is able to tell the woman that He knows all about her; just like He knows all about every one of us. He also chooses her, a non-Jew, to reveal that He is the one they have all been awaiting; He is the Messiah. The whole conversation is a wonderful example of Jesus’ willingness to engage with people as they are, and of his openness with women.

This Gospel is the first of three Gospels in Cycle A, in these last three Sundays in Lent, we start to emphasise the symbols of Baptism which we celebrate at Easter. This is important not only for those being baptised at the Easter Vigil, but also for all of us who will renew our Baptismal promises at Easter. Then we enter afresh into the living and nourishing water of God’s love which surpasses any food or drink, into the light which enlightens the blind [the Cure of the Man Born Blind] and true life [the Raising of Lazarus].[1] It is through our Baptism that we are refreshed by the living water, our eyes are opened to see God and the needs of our neighbour and that we have the promise of being raised up after we die.

For several months we have been journeying with men and women who have been seeking to learn more about the Catholic faith. Two weeks ago, some of these people attended the Cathedral at Portsmouth to formally register their intent to join the Catholic Church. Today some of them commence the Scrutinies, where they will start to make promises designed specifically for the unbaptised who seek to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil. These rites are celebrated on the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent, and they serve as moments of deep spiritual purification and enlightenment. You may not be aware, but they are deeply rooted in the ancient practices of the early Church. The scrutinies call both the catechumens [those yet to be baptised] and the faithful to complete a self-examination, which ultimately leads us towards conversion. They prepare the catechumens to receive the sacraments of initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist—while also reinforcing the Lenten journey for the entire Church.[2] This is a time of great joy for these people and for us, it shows us that the Church is still growing, that people see something in us that makes them want to look into becoming Catholic.

Let’s keep these people in our pastoral area and beyond in our prayers, as we all journey towards Easter together.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Third Sunday of Lent

CCC 1214-1216, 1226-1228: baptism, rebirth of water and Spirit
CCC 727-729: Jesus reveals the Holy Spirit
CCC 694, 733-736, 1215, 1999, 2652: the Holy Spirit, the living water, a gift of God
CCC 604, 733, 1820, 1825, 1992, 2658: God takes the initiative; hope from the Spirit[3]

Please remember in your prayers

  • All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
  • Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
  • Those attending the RCIA programmes especially those preparing for Sacraments this Easter.
  • Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
  • The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
  • The continued success of the Pastoral Area Lent course on Prayer.
  • The children who will begin their Baptism Preparation this weekend.

Deacon Tony

7th March 2026

[1] Universalis commentary on the Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Lent.

[2] The Significance of the Scrutinies in the Catholic Church and the Easter Vigil

[3] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments