"The woman said to Him, 'I know that the Messiah is coming '...Jesus said to her, 'I am He' "
A national magazine ran a story that began with a picture of a man lying prostrate on subway stairs. This was followed by a series of images taken for thirty minutes. The photos showed hundreds of people walking by the man still lying on the stairs, looking down on him and none offering a helping hand. Then followed the magazine's editorial comment about the lack of caring and compassion in today's world. What was left unsaid -- perhaps forgotten -- was that the magazine's photographer did nothing to help the distressed man. Like the cold crowds who were passing by, rather than treating the unfortunate man with compassion and respect, the photographer just went about his business, snapping pictures.
In our Gospel is the familiar story of the Samaritan woman at the well. As the story unfolds, Jesus has made a tiring journey and is alone by a well to which the nearby village dwellers come for water. He has sent His Apostles ahead to pick up supplies and He is awaiting their return. A woman comes to draw some water from the well, and a conversation starts up between her and Jesus. Jesus is thirsty after his journey over the last few hours, but he has nothing with which to draw water from the well. So, he addresses the woman: "Give me a drink."
The remark seems simple enough, but it surprises the woman. She reminds Him that He is a Jew, and Jews don't talk to Samaritans. A wall of hatred stood between these joint descendants of Abraham. Each group accused the other of being unfaithful to God, and each condemned all contact with members of the other group. Nevertheless, Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman and even asks a service of her.
They talk, and Jesus speaks to her of "living water." He says, "Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." The woman is intrigued. "Sir, give me this water so that I will never be thirsty,"
Here is a Jew who doesn't care if she is a Samaritan. Here is a man who doesn't look down on her as a woman. Here is a man who speaks to her with respect. Here is a man who treats her with an uncommon gentleness. What will He do if He finds out about her past, which includes five husbands and five divorces? Will He leave? Will He be angry? Will He think she is worthless? "I have no husband," she says to Jesus. "You are right in saying 'I have no husband,'" Jesus answers, "for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband." The woman is amazed. "I can see that you are a prophet," she says. Then she asks the question that reveals the gaping hole in her soul. "Where is God? Our ancestors say that if we worship Him on this mountain, He will come to us. Your people say that He comes to those who worship Him in the Temple in Jerusalem. I don't know where to find Him. I know that the Messiah is coming. When He comes, He will proclaim all things to us." Jesus replies, "I am He, the One who is speaking to you."
"Lent is marked by two themes, the baptismal and the penitential. By recalling or preparing for baptism and by repentance, this season disposes the faithful, as they more diligently listen to the word of God and devote themselves to prayer, to celebrate the paschal mystery." Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 109
"The season of Lent is a preparation for the celebration of Easter. The liturgy prepares the catechumens for the celebration of the paschal mystery by the several stages of Christian initiation: it also prepares the faithful, who recall their baptism and do penance in preparation for Easter." General Norms for the Liturgical Year, 27
By the threeefold discipline of fasting, almsgiving and prayer the Church keeps Lent from Ash Wednesday until the evening of Holy Thursday.
"Lent is a favorable time for opening the doors to all those in need, and recognize in them the face of Christ." Pope Francis
"Do you wish your prayer to fly toward God? Give it two things: fasting and almsgiving."
St. Augustine
On Fridays during Lent we will be having Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 12:30 Mass until 6:45PM.
Stations of the Cross will follow at 7PM.
We are pleased to announce that we will be having Taize prayer here at Blessed Sacrament during the season of Lent. Please join us!
March 4th, 6:45 PM
March 18, 6:45 PM Taize prayer with Anointing of the Sick
March 25th, 6:45 PM
April 1st, 6:45 PM Taize prayer with Anointing of the Sick
Taizé Prayer is a distinctive style of meditative prayer developed by an ecumenical community of Catholic and Protestant monks in rural France. This quiet, moving reflective prayer combines elements of the Church's traditional Liturgy of the Hours with elements of contemplative meditation. A typical Taizé prayer service incorporates periods of silence with meditative readings from Scripture, prayers of praise and intercession, and the frequent repetition of simple, contemporary chants based on the Psalms or other parts of Scripture. Short songs or chants, repeated over and over, create a meditative environment and express basic realities of faith which can be easily grasped by the mind and the heart. The result is to gradually move prayer from the head to the heart. Participants gather their prayers together and preVideosent a candle at the foot of the cross.