Something New...

Today's "Highlights" are a reflection by
Dr. Kate DeVries on a homily by Fr. Ed Foley.

Sunday's Gospel (March 27, the 3rd Sunday of Lent) is the story of the Samaritan Woman (John 4:5-42), where Jesus converses with the woman at the well.  "Give me a drink," Jesus says. Later in the conversation he adds, "The water I shall give will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  (Read the full text).

What I heard...

At Old St. Patrick's Church downtown,  Fr. Ed Foley shared that Lent is more than a time to "give something up."  It's a time to envision something new.  He invited us to open our imaginations, and continue that bold exchange between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. If she were to join us at Mass today, she would most likely still be asking profound questions about what we believe, why we worship as we do, the roles of men and women in the church, how we deal with such difficult issues as divorce, what we are doing to bring new members into the church (as she had), and just how well we respond to the needs of those around us.

Through her dialogue with Jesus, this woman was envisioning a new way to be. "Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty...." So can we.

What does it mean for us today?

Fr. Foley invited us all to move beyond giving something up. The challenge:  "Be something new for Easter."  May our Lenten practices and disciplines help us envision who we are as God's beloved daughters and sons, and live as the people God is calling us to be.

Feel free to add your thoughts.  What does this say to you? Or... What did YOU hear on Sunday?

Dr. Kate DeVries is the Associate Director of the Young Adult Ministry Office. Fr. Ed Foley is a professor at Catholic Theological Union, and weekend presider at Old St. Patrick's Church.  Fr. Foley was Kate's thesis-project director as she worked toward and completed her doctorate in ministry.