Sunday, March 7th Readings

Third Sunday of Lent

Opening Prayer

Father,

You put a thirst in me that only You can quench.

You lead me through rocky and desert places

to a wellspring with the water of life.

May the scripture I read today satisfy my desire

and fill me with Your Spirit so I may overflow!

AMEN

Journal/Reflection Questions

Exodus 17:3-7

Why was Moses afraid? When have you felt like Moses? Where was God? How did God help you?
Do you think Moses ever doubted God? Why or why not?
What about you is different than Moses?

Romans 5:1-2,5-8

An agreement made between two people requires each side to give something. God gave us His Son, Jesus gave us His life and the Holy Spirit gave us the Bible. What are you being called to give?
Could you give up your life for another person? Anyone or just specific people? How does this differ from giving up your life for God? Or giving your life to God?

John 4:5-42

What does Jesus ask for and then offer in return? Imagine Jesus asking you the same thing. How might you respond, how have you already responded? What has He asked for in return, what do you give?
Define “living water”.
Have you ever, like the disciples, wondered what God was doing?

General Questions for Journaling

Have you ever grumbled at God? Have you ever grumbled against God?
What causes you to grumble to other people?
It is said that “faith makes you stronger”; explain how this is true or not true.
Do you thirst for things in your life? Take time to be honest with yourself and reflect on things you thirst for each day. Are these things life giving or do they drain life from you?
Describe what it feels like to have faith poured over you? Love poured over you? Joy poured over you?
What do you think the woman at the well was feeling when Jesus told her all of the things of her past. How would it make you feel if a stranger did the same to you? How does it feel to know Jesus does know your past?
Are there things about you that you wish God didn’t know? How does your behavior/attitude change, knowing God knows all of your secrets?
Put yourself in the Gospel story as one of the villagers. How would you react when the woman came back to share what had just happened at the well? Would you believe her? Would the encounter change how you felt about her?
The woman at the well shows how humans long to be loved and Jesus is the only one who can give the everlasting love humans desire. What do you desire? Are there things in your life you cannot live without?
When you are in the desert and look out into the horizon, you can see a mirage, an image of water in the distance. Use this image to describe an experience in your life. What was your desert experience? What was your mirage?
How does the story of the woman at the well, help give you encouragement to continue to work on your Lenten sacrifices?

Closing Prayer