Third Sunday Lent Year A Collect

The Collect for the Third Sunday of Lent reads as follows:

 

O God author of every  mercy and of all goodness,

who in fasting, prayer and almsgiving,

have shown us a remedy for sin

look graciously on this confession of our lowliness,

that we, who are bowed down by our conscience

may always be lifted up by your mercy.

 





 

In making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflection questions emerged:

 

 

1. What is my image of God?

2.  How does this image affect my capacity to accept God's mercy?

3.  What are the difficulties I experience in fasting, prayer and almsgiving?

4.  What steps will I take this week to overcome one of these barriers in each area of fasting, prayer and almsgiving?

5.  Why do I want  fasting, prayer and almsgiving to be a  remedy for sin in my life this week?

6.  How is my conscience formed?  How can I improve the activeness of my conscience this week?

7.  What date this week will I make for receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation?

 

Today's gospel is from St John where we hear Christ telling us that the water He shall give will turn into a well for eternal life.

If we stop to think about the role of water in our lives- the fact that our body is made up of two thirds of water and without water, we become dehydrated  quite quickly and can become ill.   We also know that water is a precious commodity and not all countries have it flowing readily nor is it clean. 

When we consider these points, we realise how fortunate we are to have clean flowing water- just turn on the tap and there it is.  We are able to drink as much water as our bodies can manage.

We can then easily stop and thank God for it.

 

However Christ is telling us that if we follow Him, our inner soul is fed and we can drink from the springs of salvation- from Him.  We do not ever have to be dehydrated or ill when we drink from the well of eternal life.  The water there is pure since it is from Christ Himself.  Remember at the crucifixion, the water flowed from His side.  It flowed for us so that we may be able to be washed clean and to be able continually come to Him to quench our thirst.  Our thirst for Christ should be our number one priority, along with a burning desire for eternal life.

 

So next time, you turn the tap on or have a drink of water, why not think of the well of eternal life Christ is offering you.  Let our hearts burn as we read the scripture- God's word to us and be satiated by His love and mercy towards us. Let us drink from the well of salvation often and always.