Sunday, March 12th Readings

Third Sunday of Lent

Opening Prayer

Father,

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

You lead us through rocky and desert places

to a wellspring with the water of life.

May the Word we read today satisfy our desire

and fill us with Your Spirit so we may overflow!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Exodus 17:3-7

Can you relate to this feeling of thirst? Have you ever been “dying of thirst”? How does this translate into ones spiritual life?
Why was Moses afraid? When have you felt like Moses? Where was God? How did God help you?

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?
Have you ever, like the disciples, wondered what God was doing?
Define “living water”.

General Questions for Journaling

Have you ever grumbled at God? Have you ever grumbled against God?
What causes you to grumble to other people?
Have you ever felt like everyone was against you? What did you do?
How do you hold your ground when you are against opposition? What keeps you strong? How does it feel to be in opposition of another person?
It is said that “faith makes you stronger”; explain how this is true or not true.
How do you boast about your faith? Give a specific example.
Have you ever been disappointed by love? Explain.
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?
In what way does your faith “fill” you? Describe the feeling. Does faith fill you once and for all or do you lose the fullness you feel? How do you re-fill?
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?
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?
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?
How does the story of the woman at the well, help give you encouragement to continue to work on your Lenten sacrifices?

Closing Prayer