3A LENT SUNDAY HOMILY, JOHN 4:5-42, March 8, 2026
By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM
1. STORY
There was a
little flower standing alone in the desert. It dreamt daily of falling raindrops
which never came, so it began to wilt. One
day a bird saw this and asked the animals for help. The big lion was not interested, the fat dog
was too lazy, and the noisy blackbird was too busy. The little bird asked the busy ants for help. They joined hands and built a long chain
bringing drops of water to the roots of the flower causing it to flourish. All came to realize the importance of water
for life.
2. GOSPEL, JOHN
4:5-42
Jesus met a woman
at a well and a conversation began.
A) JESUS CAN
PROVIDE LIVING WATER
Jesus told the
woman, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a
drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
B) THE WOMAN
WANTS LIVING WATER
The woman said to
Jesus, “Sir, give me this water so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep
coming here to draw
water.”
3. APPLICATION TO
LIFE
A) What is living
water? The living water which Jesus
gives us is his teaching, his revelation. Here are some examples.
i) Jesus tells us
that God is our heavenly Father who loves us, cares for us, and helps us.
ii) He tells us
to live happily so we must follow the commandments of love God, neighbor, and
self.
iii) At the end
of the road of life, God has prepared for us a life of eternal happiness and
peace.
B) HOW DO WE
OBTAIN THIS REVELATION? There are many ways to obtain the living water. Here are a few examples.
i) During each
Mass, we hear the word of God and receive the Eucharist which gives us insights
and strength.
ii) When we pray
to God, we are obtaining his comfort and understanding.
iii) When we go
to confession, we receive his forgiveness and consolation.
4) CONCLUSION
Just as the
thirsty flower on the desert revived because it received water, so do we need
the living water which Jesus gives us through his instruction to remain his
faithful disciples. This revelation
comes through the Mass, our prayers, and in the sacrament of confession.
