My brothers and sisters,
Praise God!
Like many of you, I was happy to hear that this may be the last time we change our clocks. Our province is preparing to adopt permanent year-round daylight saving time, a change meant to support people’s well-being, reduce disruptions for families, and give us a little more light in the evening during the darker months. In a small way, it reminds us how much we appreciate light.
Last Sunday, March 1, marked my 15th anniversary of priesthood. I have never been much of a party person, so I did not feel the need for a big celebration. What I did feel was gratitude. Fifteen years is not my accomplishment; it is a testimony to God’s abiding grace. Through moments of joy and discouragement, encouragement and challenge, the Lord has sustained me. Thank you for walking with me, praying for me, and allowing me to serve you. Your faith and kindness are also signs of God’s grace in my life.
This Sunday’s readings invite us to reflect on something very human: how easily we move from gratitude to grumbling. In Exodus 17, the Israelites had just witnessed extraordinary miracles, freedom from slavery and passage through the Red Sea. Yet when thirst came in the desert, fear quickly followed. They complained against Moses and questioned God: “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Before we judge them too quickly, we might pause and ask ourselves: how often do we react the same way? One unexpected bill, one painful diagnosis, one family tension and suddenly our trust begins to shake. The desert has a way of revealing what is hidden in our hearts. Yet God responds not with punishment, but with mercy. He brings water from the rock. For us Christians, that rock points to Jesus Christ, struck on the Cross so that living water might flow for the world. Even when our faith falters, His grace continues to flow.
St. Paul reminds us in Romans that through Jesus we stand in grace. Even suffering, when united to Christ, can produce endurance, character, and hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers the Samaritan woman living water that truly satisfies. She leaves her water jar behind, no longer defined by her old thirst. This Lent, why are we murmuring instead of trusting? What “water jars” are we still carrying? Jesus is our Rock and our Living Water. Let us come to Him—and then go out and tell others, “Come and see.” Amen.
God loves you!
~ Fr. Neil