Lent is a time of true spiritual renewal. We give up something we enjoy, we fast, and we give back to those in need. Recently at Mass, I heard the Gospel story of the “Woman at the Well.” This encounter shows how much Jesus is the true living water that we all seek, and He quenches that spiritual thirst that we all have.
So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (The woman) said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come back.” The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus answered her, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.” At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, “What are you looking for?” or “Why are you talking with her?” The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?” They went out of the town and came to him. John 4: 5-30
So that we might renew our response to Jesus and say we are true followers of Him like the woman at the well, I came up with a few prayers for the Lenten season.
- Prayer for a Fruitful Prayer Life: Lord Jesus, may I have a fruitful prayer life through this Lenten season and all the days of my life. May I always be on fire with the Holy Spirit as I bring my intentions to the Holy Throne of God the Father. May I always accept God’s will, no matter His response and be grateful to Him forever and ever. Amen.
- Almsgiving Prayer: Lord Jesus, may my hands always be an extension of my heart as I serve those around me. Guide my feet in the way of peace as I help those in need. May my heart be merciful and compassionate like Your Most Sacred Heart forever and ever. Amen.
- Fasting Prayer: Lord Jesus, as I fast let me be reminded today of all those without food that they may be fed in full. I also pray for all those who crave a spiritual hunger for Jesus. Lead them to Christ and His Holy Catholic Church which Jesus founded. There we receive His True Presence in the Eucharistic feast. Lead all souls to Christ especially those who are in need of His mercy the most. May we praise You in Heaven with all the angels and saints forever and ever. Amen.
I hope you all will have a fruitful Lenten season and are reminded through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving that it is God you seek.
“I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.” Daniel 9:3
