Third Sunday of Lent A 2025

INTRO: I am a bit of an OLD FOGEY… always loved “musicals”! In particular…….

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific

The lyrics for; “Some Enchanted Evening”

Once you have found her, never let her go.

The musical is SO touching!

That song in the musical describes an encounter.

Well, the FOURTH CHAPTER of JOHN’S GOSPEL which was proclaimed is designed around baptismal imagery…. All that water at the well.

But be careful… It is not just the “LIVING WATER” that Jesus speaks of that makes this story “baptismal” in nature. It is ALSO the “encounter” between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

It was His invitation to her personally to come to faith.

That fits this OCIA Sunday of the First Scrutiny.

Each of you had and continues to have an encounter with Jesus. This is what is so exciting for the church. We celebrate encounters that the children of God have ….. to deepen their faith in a community that practices Catholicism.

All of you scrutinized JESUS and His encounter with you over that last several months!

And as the song says: NEVER LET HIM GO!

CONCLUSION:

So let our church this afternoon pray over you special ELECT, those of you who are to join us in full communion at the EASTER VIGIL through a baptism of water, an anointing of the Holy Spirit and through the nourishment of the real presence of Jesus Christ.