EX 17:3-7; PS 95:1-2, 6-9; ROM 5:1-2, 5-8; JN 4:5-42 OR JN 4:5-15, 19B-26, 39A, 40-42
The readings for this Third Sunday of Lent center on the theme of thirst, revealing both our deep human longing for God and Christ’s own thirst for souls. They remind us that a stewardship way of life both satisfies our spiritual thirst and invites us to participate in God’s saving work in the lives of others.
In our first reading from Exodus, the Israelites find themselves in the desert without water. Their fear quickly turns to complaint, and they grumble against Moses despite all God has done to free them from slavery. It is easy to judge them, yet their response mirrors our own at times. When we face uncertainty, discomfort, or unanswered prayers, we too can forget how faithfully God has provided for us in the past.
Still, when Moses cries out to the Lord, God responds with generosity, instructing him to strike the rock so water flows for the people. God’s care did not end in the desert. He continues to provide for His people today, meeting both our material and spiritual needs. Every breath we take, every blessing we enjoy, every opportunity placed before us is evidence of His ongoing generosity. A stewardship way of life begins when we recognize this truth and respond not with complaint or fear, but with gratitude and trust.
St. Paul deepens this understanding in his Letter to the Romans, reminding us that God’s generosity is not limited to material provision. Rather, He pours His very love into our hearts: “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” This gift is not given because we have earned it. In fact, Paul tells us, “God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
This is the heart of stewardship. Everything we have — our time, abilities, and resources — is first a gift. We are loved and blessed even in our weakness. When we truly grasp this, gratitude naturally leads us to generosity. We begin to see our lives not as possessions to guard, but as gifts to share. Such generosity becomes a powerful witness that can lead others to Christ and help satisfy His thirst for souls.
This movement from receiving to sharing is beautifully illustrated in today’s Gospel encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus begins with a humble request: “Give me a drink.” She is surprised that He would even speak to her, yet this simple exchange opens the door to a life-changing conversation.
Jesus tells her that He can offer living water — water that truly satisfies: “Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” At first, she thinks only in practical terms, but gradually she comes to recognize that Christ is speaking about a deeper thirst — the longing of the human heart for God.
These words are spoken to us as well. Christ asks something of us — our trust, our time, our generosity — yet He first desires to fill us with His grace. Stewardship is not simply about giving things away; it is about allowing Christ to fill our lives so completely that His grace overflows into the lives of others.
The Gospel also reminds us that God calls ordinary, imperfect people to share His message. The Samaritan woman had a complicated past and was an unlikely evangelist. Yet after encountering Christ, she leaves her water jar behind and runs to tell others about Him. Her testimony leads many in her village to believe.
The same pattern holds true today. Christ does not wait for perfect people; He calls each of us as we are. Through simple acts of generosity, service, hospitality, and witness, we help others encounter Him. Often, we do not even realize the impact our small acts of stewardship can have in drawing someone closer to Christ.
Lent offers us a privileged time to examine where we still thirst and where we hesitate to trust God’s provision. It is also an opportunity to renew our commitment to live as stewards — people who gratefully receive God’s gifts and generously share them for the good of others.
Christ continues to say to each of us, “Give me a drink.” He invites us to share what we have so that others may encounter Him. As we allow His living water to fill our hearts, we become instruments through which His grace flows to a thirsty world.
This Lent, may we respond to His invitation with renewed faith and commitment. By living as grateful and generous stewards, we help quench Christ’s thirst for the salvation of souls and lead many more to the living water that alone satisfies.
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