I WHO AM SPEAKING TO YOU, I AM HE - March 8, 2026

Today’s Gospel story is one of growth, conversion and revelation. Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.

     Here, Jesus patiently courts the soul of the Samaritan woman. Everything we hear of her is in unspoken contrast with what is expected. She was a woman, a Samaritan with moral problems. For the Jews of her time she was not a likely candidate to be privileged with meeting the Messiah. Two thousand years later and more, used to saints in unexpected places, even to us she is surprising.

     The story of the Samaritan woman teaches us that with the things of God we should expect the unexpected. We, each of us have our own problems, concerned with the world and often sceptical about the things of God.

     In short, we, too, are unlikely recipients of revelation. Yet our Lord courts us as well. In the midst of our sins, our distractions, our worldly concerns, just occasionally we hear his voice and recognize in it the voice of one who knows us profoundly, one who knows everything we ever did, one who knows who we are and calls us by our name.

     When Jesus won the soul of the Samaritan woman, she put the disciples themselves to shame with the power of her witness. And what might he do through us when he speaks to us, and we listen to his voice and harden not our hearts.                               ~  Fr. Paul Dobson.

LENTEN MESSAGE 2026 ~ HIS EMINENCE FRANK CARDINAL LEO

My Dear Brothers and Sisters, May Jesus and Mary be in your hearts.

Concluding Paragraph 

     … As we begin this Lenten season, we pray for the grace not only of conversion, but for the healing of our relationships; not only to examine our consciences, but to rebuild communion; not only to walk toward Easter individually, but to arrive there together. For it is together—as one Body in Christ—that we are led from the desert to the joy of the Resurrection. May the Blessed Mother be our inspiration, guide, model and companion on this journey of spiritual and social renewal.