5th Sunday of Lent

Ezek. 37:12-14; Rom. 8:8-11; Jn. 11:1-45

Dr. Shailesh Mehta is a great cardiac surgeon in Baroda and he is quite famous. Once Dr Mehta narrated this story to his friend. He said that a couple walked into his office with a 6 year old girl and the file was given to him. Apparently, there was some serious clogging issue with the little girls' heart. The couple had already consulted some doctors who gave up on her. Dr. Mehta explained the couple that her condition was bad, and she need to have an open heart surgery immediately or she will have a maximum of 3 to 6 months. He added that there was only 30% chance that the girl would survive the operation. The couple decided to go ahead with the surgery.

The child was admitted to hospital and the date was fixed. On the date of operation, as the nurses were preparing the girl for operation, Dr. Mehta went to her room. He had already done so many operations and he knew that there was a good chance that the girl wouldn’t make it. 

4th Sunday of Lent (A)

1 Sam. 16.1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Eph. 5:8-14; Jn. 9:1-41

Today's First Reading [1 Sam. 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13] gave us the account of the anointing of David as the king of Israel. Now Samuel was commissioned to go to Jesse of Bethlehem to anoint God's newly chosen king. [1 Sam. 16:1] As we heard, all the sons of Jesse who were present in the household passed before Samuel. None of them were chosen by God. While Samuel would have chosen one of them because of his appearance, Samuel was reminded by God that a calling is not based on one's outward appearance. God looks on the heart of the person. [1 Sam. 16:7]

Consequently, Samuel asked Jesse if all of his sons were present. He quickly learned that the youngest one was missing. He was keeping the sheep. Samuel immediately sent for him. [1 Sam. 16:11]

When David came in, the Lord told Samuel to rise and anoint him. For he was the chosen one. [1 Sam. 16:12] In obedience to God, Samuel anointed David in the presence of his brothers. From that day on, the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David. [1 Sam. 16:13]

3rd Sunday of Lent (A)

 Ex. 17:3-7; Rom. 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn. 4:5-42

Jesus comes to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near Jacob’s well. This detail matters. The well is linked to the patriarch Jacob, reminding us of God’s long history with Israel. In the Old Testament, wells are places of encounter and revelation. Isaac’s servants found water after struggle (Genesis 26), Moses met Zipporah at a well before his mission began (Exodus 2), and Rebekah was chosen for Isaac beside a well (Genesis 24). Wells are places where life is sustained and destinies change. Jesus, tired and thirsty, sits at such a place. God comes not in thunder but in weariness. This is the first lesson: God meets us in our ordinary, exhausted moments. Many people today feel worn out by work, family pressures, migration, financial stress, loneliness or war and unrest in the regions. Like Jesus at noon, God waits for us precisely there, not when life is perfect, but when we are tired.

The Samaritan woman comes at noon, the hottest part of the day. Traditionally, women drew water in the cool morning or evening. Her timing hints at shame, avoidance, or social isolation. She does not expect conversation with anyone. Yet Jesus