Fellow parishioners of Blessed Sacrament and Visitors,

We are already in the third Sunday of Lent, and time is flying by quickly. Before we know it, Easter will be here. If you started off slowly in fully embracing this season, it's time to roll up your sleeves and recommit yourself to your Lenten resolutions.

The theme for our reflection on this third Sunday of Lent is "The Living Water."In the first reading, we hear that the Israelites were in need of water during their journey through the desert. The Lord provided for them when He instructed Moses, "Behold, I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb; strike the rock, and water will come out of it so that the people may drink" (Exodus 17:6). While this was ordinary water to sustain them on their physical journey to Canaan, it was also a prefiguration of the Living Water that the Messiah would provide at the appointed time.

The true Living Water is described in today's gospel, which highlights an encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman who came to draw water at Jacob's well. She was in need of water, and Jesus initiated the conversation by saying to her, "Give me a drink." This phrase brings to mind Jesus' cry on the Cross, "I am thirsty" (John 19:28). However, Jesus wasn't in need of an ordinary drink; rather, He was thirsting for the woman's faith and her recognition of Him as the Messiah.

It took a lengthy dialogue for the Samaritan woman to realize who Jesus truly was. Initially, she referred to Him as a "Jew" (John 4:9), then she called Him "Sir" (John 4:11), followed by recognizing Him as a prophet (John 4:19), and ultimately acknowledging Him as the "Christ" (John 4:29). After she went out and shared the good news, the multitudes recognized Jesus as the "Saviour of the world" (John 4:42). This ultimate recognition all began with Jesus' simple request, "Give me a drink!"

Likewise, we should repeatedly hear Jesus resounding this request to us, "Give me a drink!" He is continually thirsting for our faith, our knowledge of Him, our love, and our willingness to serve our brothers and sisters in need. Whenever we help those in need through acts of charity-such as donating to St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Columbus, supporting various charitable organizations, or directly assisting individuals in need, especially during this Lenten season-we quench the thirst of Jesus Himself. As He said, "Whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it for me" (Matthew 25:40). We also give Jesus a drink when we support the mission of the gospel by tithing to the church and generously participating in the Sunday collection.

Starting from the need we all have for natural water, Jesus spoke of living water. He told the Samaritan woman: "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink," you would have asked Him, and he would have given you the living water." What is this living water?

We get answers from the Old Testament literature, where God is portrayed as the source of living water. The Psalmist expresses this beautifully: "With Thee is the fountain of life" (Psalms 36:9). In Revelation 22:1, we see that the river of life flows from the very throne of God. Jeremiah 17:13 refers to the Lord as the fountain of living water. Additionally, in the Messianic age, it is foretold that the parched ground will become a pool and the thirsty land will be filled with springs of water (Isaiah 35:7). When Jesus spoke about offering water that quenches thirst forever, he was essentially declaring that he would send the Holy Spiritwho proceeds from both the Father and the Son-to grant us true, eternal life.

Thus, after recognizing Jesus as the Christ and the Savior of the world, and quenching His thirst by helping those in need, let us continually ask Him for the grace of the Holy Spirit, often referred to as the Living Water. With this Living Water within us, we will find true happiness and will require nothing else. As the apostle Paul explains, just as water sustains all life and nurtures diverse plants and animals, the Holy Spirit is one and indivisible, yet He imparts various gifts according to His will. These gifts include wisdom, prophecy, the ability to drive out demons, interpretation of scriptures, selfcontrol, charity, detachment from bodily desires, training for martyrdom, and more (see 1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Source of the Living Water, increase in us the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, to work in us and give us eternal life. Amen.

In God's service and yours,

Fr. Thomas Kagumisa

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