This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C.  For parishes with active RCIA programs it is also the beginning of the Lenten Scrutinies when the catechumens/elect (those awaiting baptism) are present at Mass. The presider has the option to use the readings from Year A. So, if this Sunday you are wondering why the Johannine gospel of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at the well is proclaimed, you’ll know why! In this post we will stay with the Year C readings.

Coming as it does on this Sunday in Lent, out of sequence with the narrative flow of Luke’s gospel, we would do well to consider the verses that precede our gospel pericope.