Weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent

• First Reading – Exodus 17:1-7: The people quarreled with Moses over their thirst. God told Moses to strike a rock, and water came out. The place was named for the people’s doubt and complaint.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 95: Come with joy and thanksgiving. Worship the Lord who made us and leads us. Do not resist his voice as others did before, even after witnessing his care.
• Gospel – John 4:5-42: Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman at a well and offered her living water. She told others about him. Many came, listened, and believed. Jesus stayed with them, and they came to know him as the Savior.

Lectionary Reference: 236

Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.

John 4:15

The optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent show how God reaches out to his people even when they are doubtful or broken. These scriptures invite us to trust, to listen, and to share what we have found in Christ.

• Thirst for God’s help: The Israelites wanted water, but God gave them more than that. He showed them he was still with them even though they complained.
• Worship with trust: The psalm reminds us not to close our hearts. When we trust God and worship him, we find peace and direction.
• Jesus meets the outsider: Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman, even though others would not. He saw her and welcomed her.
• Living water for all: Jesus talked about water that brings life forever. He offered it freely to someone others looked down on.
• Faith begins with listening: The people listened to the woman and then to Jesus. Their faith started by hearing and stayed by choosing to believe.
• God works through weakness: Moses was tired of the people’s anger, but God still worked through him. The woman at the well was unsure, but she became a witness.
• Faith grows in community: The woman brought others to Jesus. Faith was shared, not kept alone.

These optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent show how faith can grow in unlikely places. God is still speaking, even in the desert or by a well.

The optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent offer deep lessons about faith, welcome, and trust. These stories are not about perfect people. They are about regular people—tired, confused, or uncertain—who meet God in small but real ways. These reflections help us see how God reaches out to us, even when we are not sure how to respond.

Faith Begins with Listening

The optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent show how faith grows through listening. In the Gospel, the Samaritan woman meets Jesus at the well. At first, she does not understand who he is. But she listens. She asks questions. She stays in the conversation. That is how her faith begins.

She does not have everything figured out. She brings up old arguments and tries to avoid the deeper questions. But Jesus keeps speaking with her. He invites her to go deeper. She keeps listening, and something in her begins to change.

After this, she runs to tell others about Jesus. She says, “Come see a man who told me everything.” The people in her town come to listen too. They want to hear for themselves. They meet Jesus, and their faith grows.

The optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent remind us that faith often starts with a conversation. We don’t need to know all the answers. We just need to listen and stay with it. God will speak, and our hearts will open over time.

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Jesus Meets the Outsider

The Gospel from the optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent tells the story of a woman who is used to being ignored. She is a Samaritan. She is a woman. She comes to the well at a time when no one else is there. But Jesus is there waiting.

Jesus speaks to her even though others would not. He sees her as a person worth talking to. He is not afraid of her questions or her past. He does not speak down to her. He simply offers her something more—living water.

This changes everything. She begins to feel seen. She realizes that Jesus is not like the others. He does not avoid her. He invites her to be part of what he is doing. She goes and tells others about him.

The optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent remind us that Jesus welcomes the people others often reject. He doesn’t wait for them to change first. He speaks with love, and that changes hearts.

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God Works Through Weakness

In the reading from Exodus in the optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent, the people are angry and upset. They are thirsty. They are tired. They argue with Moses and blame him for their trouble. Moses feels worn down and unsure of what to do.

Moses goes to God. He cries out for help. He is frustrated and afraid. But God does not get angry with Moses. Instead, he tells Moses what to do. God tells him to strike the rock so that water will come out for the people.

Moses listens and obeys. Even though he feels weak, God uses him to help others. The people receive water, and their thirst is satisfied. God worked through Moses, even when Moses was at his limit.

The Gospel reading also shows this. The woman at the well had a complicated past. She may have felt unworthy. But Jesus chose her to carry the message. The optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent show us that God works through people who are tired, unsure, or even broken. He does not wait for perfect strength. He uses the weak to show his care.

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The optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent remind us that God often chooses unexpected moments and people. Whether we are listening, feeling left out, or worn down, God is near. He speaks gently. He invites us to trust, to act, and to share. Lent is a time to notice his voice and follow.

Prayer

Lord, help me listen to your voice. Show me that I am not forgotten. Give me courage when I feel weak, and peace when I feel lost. Help me welcome others with your love. Stay near and guide me every step.

Reflection Questions

• When have you listened and truly felt God was speaking to you?
• Do you ever feel like an outsider? How might Jesus be speaking to you in those moments?
• What weakness in your life could God use for something good?
• How can you help someone feel seen and welcomed, like Jesus did at the well?

How Do We Evangelize?

In this reflection by Fr. Michael Champlin, we hear how Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well and began a simple, honest conversation. He asked for a drink, then spoke of living water. When he gently revealed her past, she felt seen, not judged. Her response was to go and tell others. Because of her, many came to believe.

Fr. Champlin explains that evangelization does not start with long talks or detailed lessons. It begins by listening and caring. Meeting others where they are, asking about their lives, and showing love opens a path for the Spirit to work. The optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent show how one honest moment can lead to faith.

By the Waters of Meribah

This homily reminds us that leaving behind sin is not easy. The Israelites were free from slavery, but still wanted to go back when the journey got hard. Bishop Barron explains that sin is like addiction. Even when we know it’s bad, we may miss its comfort.

The optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent show how God stays with us through the struggle. Bishop Barron says the desert journey is long, but God gives us signs, like the water from the rock. These signs remind us not to turn back but to keep moving forward with trust.

What does the water from the rock mean?

It shows that God can meet our needs, even when we are in a hard place. He gives what is needed, even when people are angry or unsure.

Why were the people angry with Moses?

They were scared and thirsty. They forgot how God had helped them before and started to complain.

Why did Moses cry out to God?

He was tired and did not know what to do. He asked God for help, and God showed him the next step.

Why is the woman at the well important?

She was someone most people ignored. But Jesus saw her, spoke to her, and helped her believe.

What is living water?

It is the life and hope that Jesus gives. It fills a deeper need, not just physical thirst.

Why did the woman tell others about Jesus?

She was excited and wanted others to know what she had found. Her story led others to meet Jesus too.

Why did Jesus talk to someone others avoided?

He does not look at labels or background. He sees the person and speaks to their heart.

Why do people in the Gospel come to believe?

They first listen to someone else’s story. Then they go to Jesus themselves and decide to believe.

How do the optional readings for a weekday in the 3rd Week of Lent help us in daily life?

They show that God listens when we feel weak or lost. They remind us that listening, asking questions, and staying open can lead to faith.

What can we learn about trust from these readings?

Trust does not always come easy. But when we turn to God, even with doubt, he stays with us and helps us take the next step.

Why is listening such a big part of these readings?

Listening is how people come to know Jesus. Faith often grows when we take time to hear and reflect, even if we do not understand everything right away.

How do the these readings show God’s patience?

God does not walk away when people complain or struggle. He stays close and keeps helping them, even when they fall short.