During Mass today, Rev. Bruno Kesangana Nandaba, at Holy Angels parish reflected on the Samaritan woman in John 4:5-42 and her encounter with Jesus at the well.
He spoke about how we are all thirsty for the same things — to be loved, to be understood, for peace, to be heard, valued, and seen.
And yet, so many of us live with a quiet thought in the back of our minds:
“If only I had a car… then I would be happy…”
“If only I had a different job… then I would be happy…”
“If only I was married… then I would be happy…”
“If only I had a house… then I would be happy…”
“If only I had more money… then I would be happy…”
This “if only” thinking can follow us for years.
We tell ourselves that life will feel right once that one thing changes.
So we keep going… working… worrying… striving… hoping…
and even when something finally falls into place, the peace we expected doesn’t last.
We are still thirsty.
Still restless.
Still looking for the next thing that will finally make us feel full.
Fr. Bruno spoke about the encounter the Samaritan woman had at the well — an encounter that changed her completely.
Jesus said to her:
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but 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.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty…”
Have you had an encounter with Him… with Jesus? It really does change everything. Today is struck me too, how excited she was to tell others about her encounter…
Are you happy to do that? To tell others how life in Christ is a radical blessing.
Maybe Lent is not about getting everything in order before we can feel close to God.
Maybe it is not about finding the perfect routine, the perfect prayer plan, or the perfect quiet time that never seems to come.
Maybe the thirst we feel will not be satisfied by changing our circumstances…
but by coming to Him exactly as we are.
Tired.
Busy.
Distracted.
Pulled in a hundred directions.
One of the simplest and most powerful ways to have that encounter is to spend time with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration.
Not to say many prayers.
Not to do it perfectly.
Just to sit with Him.
To let Him look at you.
To let Him speak to the parts of your heart that no one else sees.
I know many moms feel that Lent has already passed them by.
Life has been too busy.
Too full.
Too demanding to begin anything new.
But it is not too late.
Lent is not about doing everything.
It is about coming back.
Again and again.
To the well.
I am attaching our latest newsletter, filled with simple Lenten ideas and reflections.
Take a few minutes to read it — you may find one small step the Lord is inviting you to take this week.
And as you pray about your Lent, I also want to invite you to consider joining us at the Dynamic Women of Faith Conference.
Over the years, many women have shared that they had a powerful encounter with Jesus at the conference — sometimes in a talk, sometimes during Mass, sometimes in being in community with others, and sometimes simply in the quiet moment when they realized they were not alone.
If your heart feels thirsty…
if you feel like you need renewal…
if you feel like you need time with Him…
pray about coming.
It’s not too late.
We still have a few tickets left, and I would love for you to be there.
Don’t wait for life to slow down before you come to the well.
Come as you are.
He is already there!
Dorothy Pilarski is the founder of Dynamic Women of Faith, author, Catholic radio host, motivational speaker, blogger, guest columnist with the Catholic Register and a facilitator on Salt + Light TV. www.dorothypilarski.com
