Welcome to our Bible Study

3rd Sunday of Lent A

23 March 2014In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy

In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing

Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1st reading: Exodus 17:3-7 3 In those days, in their thirst for water, the people

grumbled against Moses, saying, "Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?" 4 So Moses cried out to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? A little more and they will stone me!" 5 The LORD answered Moses, "Go over there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink." This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel. 7 The place was called Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled there and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD in our midst or not?"

1st reading: Exodus 17:3-7 3 In those days, in their thirst for water, the people

grumbled against Moses, saying, "Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?" 4 So Moses cried out to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? A little more and they will stone me!" 5 The LORD answered Moses, "Go over there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink." This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel. 7 The place was called Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled there and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD in our midst or not?"

The focus is on thirsting for water.

1st reading: Exodus 17:3-7Israel to Moses 3 In those days, in their thirst for water,

the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?"

Moses to God 4 So Moses cried out to the LORD,

"What shall I do with this people? A little more and they will stone me!"

God to Moses 5 The LORD answered Moses, "Go over

there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink."

Moses This Moses did, in the presence of the

elders of Israel. The place 7 The place was called Massah and

Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled there and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD in our midst or not?"

Commentary The Israelites are on their way to

Mt. Sinai. In v.3, the people complain against

Moses, pointing on the advantages of staying in Egypt.

In the desert, there is no supply of water.

The people expressed regret for having left Egypt.

In v.4, Moses takes recourse to God. He feels helpless. He does not know what to do with the people.

He fears for his life. (They will stone me.)

People can become violent if their need is not met.

1st reading: Exodus 17:3-7Israel to Moses 3 In those days, in their thirst for water,

the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?"

Moses to God 4 So Moses cried out to the LORD,

"What shall I do with this people? A little more and they will stone me!"

God to Moses 5 The LORD answered Moses, "Go over

there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink."

Moses This Moses did, in the presence of the

elders of Israel. The place 7 The place was called Massah and

Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled there and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD in our midst or not?"

In vv.5-6, God instruct Moses to go in front of the people (exposing himself to danger), accompanied by some of the elders (leaders), with the staff that divided the river (water, Red Sea).

In v.6, God promises to stand in front of Moses [to protect him] on the rock in Mt. Horeb (=Mt. Sinai).• Potable water will gush forth

from the rock, after Moses strikes it.

Moses obeys. V.7 describes the place where

people grumbled as:• Massah means the place of test.• Meribah means the place of

quarrel (with Moses) It is also the place where they

tested (provoked) God.

Reflections on the 1st reading We are all on a journey. We pass by unfamiliar places and encounter

dangers. We run short of provisions. When we lack our basic needs like food and water,

there is trouble. We question the decision of our leaders. We question the wisdom of God. We must keep moving forward, no moving backward. Forget the good ol’ days of plenty. We are destined to arrive at a better future. In times of trouble, do you practice damage control

or exacerbate the situation, by your threats and invectives?

Resp. Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

1 Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship;let us kneel before the LORD who made us.7 For he is our God,and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

8 Oh, that today you would hear his voice:“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,as in the day of Massah in the desert,9 Where your fathers tempted me;they tested me though they had seen my works.”

Resp. Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

1 Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship;let us kneel before the LORD who made us.7 For he is our God,and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

8 Oh, that today you would hear his voice:“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,as in the day of Massah in the desert,9 Where your fathers tempted me;they tested me though they had seen my works.”

Commentary The psalm is certainly an expression

of people, who are happy with God. Vv.1-2 contain three invitations which

mean the same:• To sing joyfully

• To acclaim

• To sing psalms joyfully They invite people to worship God. V.6 is another invitation. It mentions

the gestures how to approach God:• To bow down

• To kneel V.7 gives the reason for worshipping

God. Vv.8-9 exhort people to listen to God.

They must behave differently from their forefathers in the desert, who:• They hardened their hearts

• They tempted God.

Reflections on the Psalm

When we worship God, we must exert effort in singing his praises and recognizing who he is.

We must show reverence to God, by bowing down and kneeling, or do some other reverent gestures.

We must know why we are worshipping God. In our worship, we must acknowledge his power and

what he has done for us. Do you worship God? How do you show it? What is the content of your prayer?

2nd reading: Romans 5:1-2.5-8 1 Since we have been justified by faith, we have

peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access (by faith) to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.

5 Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. 6 For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

The focus is on the death of Christ.

2nd reading: Romans 5:1-2.5-8 1 Since we have been justified by

faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access (by faith) to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.

5 Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. 6 For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Commentary In vv.1-2, the result of justification is peace

with God, access to grace and to hope. Justification means giving good reasons

for our deeds. Justification is brought about by faith in

Jesus. V.5 tells us about hope. It does not

disappoint. We may interpret hope here as in v.2:

hope for the glory of God. We are sure to see God’s glory because of

God’s love poured out upon us. Because Christ dies at the appointed time

v.6 V.7 says it is hard for someone to die for a

just person; even for a good person, one may take courage to die.

V.8 repeats the idea that Christ dies for us while we are still sinners.

Jesus finds it easy to die for us. In this manner God proves his love for us.

Reflections on the 2nd reading

The death of Jesus brings us life. Life means justification. Jesus shows his love for us by dying on the

cross. Can you give life to others by dying to

yourself, to your selfishness?

Gospel reading: John 4:5-15.19-26.39.40-42

Setting 5 Jesus came to a town of

Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon.

The Samaritan Woman and Jesus

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8 His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.)

Commentary Samaria is between Galilee and Judah. In going to Jerusalem, Jesus passes by

Samaria. Samaria is associated with Jacob/Israel. V.5 recognizes the significance of Sychar,

near the land of Joseph, given by Jacob. V.6 points to Jacob’s well. The whole

passage revolves around the well, which provides water.

V.7 introduces an important character: a Samaritan woman coming to the well to draw water.

At this point, Jesus asks for water from her. V.8 is a parenthesis. The author, as a skilled

scriptwriter, exits the other characters in order to focus on Jesus and the woman.

In v.9, the woman reacts. She is culturally conditioned.• A Jew must avoid Samaritans and vice versa.• A Jewish man must keep away from Samaritan

women.

Please read slide by slide. The text should be read along with the commentary.

The Living Water 10 Jesus answered and

said to her, "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." 11 (The woman) said to him, "Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?"

In v.10, Jesus wishes that the woman would properly identify him. Then she would treat him differently.

In v.11, the woman still thinks in terms of the material water, even if she is already told of the “living” water.

In v.12, the woman challenges Jesus if he is greater than Jacob. The woman is resigned that Jacob is greater than this Jew.

Jacob is perceived as greater because he has accomplished a lot: dug a useful cistern for himself, for his children and his flock.

13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; 14 but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water."

In v.13, Jesus affirms the natural property of water that comes from the well of Jacob.

But in v.14, Jesus leads her back to his own important message about the water he is offering.

Jesus adds a property of water that sends a message that he is greater than Jacob.

“Anyone who drinks of it will never thirst again.”

In v.15, still the woman does not get the message of Jesus.

She is still thinking of the material water.

She misunderstands the meaning of Jesus.

This is the style of John the Evangelist. (the style of misunderstanding in the conversation, like his conversation with Nicodemus)

Place of Worship 19 The woman said to him, "Sir,

I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem." 21 Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth."

Now in v.19, the woman senses Jesus as not an ordinary man.

She recognizes him as a prophet. In v.20, she brings in another topic

which divides the Jews and the Samaritans. (place of worship)

In v.21, Jesus assures her of a better worship not tied anymore to a place.

V.22 affirms the role of the Jews in salvation history.

Vv.23-24 follows up v.21. Now is the time to worship God in Spirit and in truth.

No longer will God be worshipped as in the days of old when fixed places were important.

The Messiah 25 The woman said to him,

"I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything." 26 Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking with you."

In v.25, the woman expresses her messianic hopes.

She knows the role of the Messiah, the anointed.

He will reveal everything.

In v.26, Jesus reveals himself as the Messiah.

The Samaritans 39 Many of the Samaritans of

that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me everything I have done." 40 When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41 Many more began to believe in him because of his word, 42 and they said to the woman, "We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the

world."

This last section, (vv.39-42) of the reading tells us of the coming of many Samaritans to Jesus who believe him.

They believe in Jesus not because of the testimony of the woman, but because they themselves hear Jesus speak to them.

The Samaritans believe that he is the savior of the world.

Commentary/ Reflections on the gospel reading

We are supposed to read the whole story of the Samaritan woman to appreciate it better.

However, the liturgists omitted some parts (truncated it) to shorten the gospel reading (for practical reasons).

The reading is still very long. Long reading means less time to deliver homily. So the homilist must make his homily compact. He must concentrate on the water, on the thirst for

the Savior, thirst for true religion, thirst for new relationships.

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm

The first reading talks about the Israelites’ thirst for water in the desert.

The psalm invites us to worship God for he is our shepherd (who leads us to the waters to quench our thirst).

The second reading talks about the death of Jesus. (His death quenches thirst for salvation.)

The gospel reading talks about Jesus, who can provide water that quenches thirst forever.

How to develop your homily / sharing

Have you experienced thirst for water? Water is a basic need. We cannot survive

without water. Lack of it spells sickness, disease and

trouble.

In the first reading, the Israelites thirst as they travel in the desert to the promised land.

They complain to Moses for the lack of water. Moses turns to God and God answers their

need. God produces water out of the rock (out of nowhere).

God makes miracles to save his people.

In our journey to God, we may not always have water to drink.

Like Moses, we have to turn to God for help. In our helplessness and poverty, only God can

save us. We show this by listening to him, by moving

forward, and not by grumbling and complaining.

In the gospel reading, the woman does not ask for a miracle.

She draws water from a well dug by Jacob. The town has a continuous supply of water. There is life in that place.

Jesus starts the conversation by asking for water from the woman.

From the topic of water, Jesus moves deeper to a different kind of water.

Slowly, she realizes in her conversation with Jesus that Jesus can provide a life-giving water.

Jesus comes to us when we are fetching water for our bodily needs (earning our bread), when we are helping ourselves to survive.

When we converse with him in prayer, Jesus also offers to us “water” that quenches our spiritual thirst.

We also thirst for justice, peace and love. Jesus also offers us this water of justice,

peace and love. It is not attainable by individuals alone.

Satisfaction has a communal dimension. Hence, building relationship with Jesus, and

with others, is important in bringing about satisfaction and salvation.

In the second reading, St. Paul declares that Jesus died for us.

Jesus satisfies our thirst for salvation by dying on the cross.

Our thirst for divine love and grace is satisfied by Jesus’ shedding of his blood for us on the cross.

We can fully appreciate what Christ has done for us, when we also journey with him to Mt. Calvary, by bearing our own crosses, by embracing the paschal mystery.

Thirst cannot be satisfied so cheaply. Jesus eradicates thirst by paying a high price, by

pouring out his life and blood. We, too. have to pay a high price to quench our

spiritual thirst.

In this season of Lent, we, Christians, must know whom to approach when it comes to quenching our thirst.

We must first of all recognize our spiritual thirst.

Apparently, we don’t feel this, because we are more focused on our senses, stomachs and on material things.

We may not realize that the latest gadgets and cars that we crave to buy just distract us from what we really need, to put ourselves to rest.

The eucharist is a sacrament that quenches our thirst for God.

He comes to us in the eucharist to accompany us in our journey to salvation.

When we receive the eucharist, we cannot ask for more.

In the eucharist, we truly attain fullness of life.

Our Context of Sin and Grace Scarcity of water in some

places due to the denudation of forests.

Underground water level going down

Water can be a source of conflict and wars.

Stagnant water No accessible potable water in

many communities People are thirsty of good

governance (enough of shameless corruption in high places).

Hunger and thirst for the Word of God

Bible Sharing, Bible Study Lectio Divina Attentive listening to the

Word of God as proclaimed in the Liturgy

Bible Distributions Hunger for justice and

equitable distribution of goods

Suggested Songs

Like the Deer that yearns Lord, I Know (communion)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulqjOjYZOns

Signs of the Times

Too much rain, floods Drought Extreme weather conditions