3rd Sunday of Lent

Sadly, most of us know of people who have suffered multiple marriage or relationship break downs or have been through them ourselves. These leave people feeling broken and demoralised. This is further amplified when a person is judged by society and is marginalised by gossip or demonised and punished by onlookers. The woman at the well was in that position. Jesus, by talking to her and speaking of her value in God's eyes, put his own teaching into practice: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I come to call not the righteous but sinners'. " (Mtt 9: 12-13) In what way do I embody this aspect of Christ's teaching in my life, especially to those who have enmeshed themselves in failed relationships, sometimes through their own fault? Jesus knows that the woman is struggling: "... for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband" (Jn 4: 18) - yet he reaches out to her. Am I like the townspeople who will not even draw water with the woman? Or, like the disciples of Jesus, am I astonished that Jesus would have anything to do with her? (Jn 4: 27) The challenge of the Christian life is to be Christ to others, especially those who are imperfect, and to take his message to them: "So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Cor. 5: 20)