Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
On Ash Wednesday, we were reminded of a simple but sobering truth: we are mortal. Ashes were placed on our foreheads with the words, “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”
Every time we face serious illness, every time we confront death, we are confronted with the fact that life is fragile. The fear of death is deeply human. But death does not have the final say. As Christians, we believe that Jesus came to conquer death. Jesus has put death to death.
In the summer of 1988, Chiaro Badano, an Italian teenager, was diagnosed with a rare and painful form of bone cancer. She had strong faith through it all, offering her struggles to Jesus as a way to unite herself to his cross. She died in 1990 with her parents at her bedside. Chiara was declared a “Blessed” by the Church in 2010. Many pray that she will eventually be declared a saint.
Recalling Chiara, one her doctors said, “Through her smile, and through her eyes full of light, she showed us that death doesn't exist; only life exists." The final words reportedly spoken by her to her mother were, “"Bye, Mum, be happy, because I am."
What extraordinary faith! We have much to learn from her. She knew that she would live on — it’s a good lesson for all of us to learn from her. It’s a lesson of hope.
Today’s Gospel offers that same hope. A woman came to the well looking for ordinary water to quench her physical thirst. She came seeking what she needed just for that day.
Jesus offered her something far greater. He offered her “living water”—a spring welling up to eternal life. He offered her the Holy Spirit, reaching into the deepest places of her soul. In that encounter with Jesus, heaven touched her difficult life. She came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, the Savior of the world—her savior.
That same Holy Spirit dwells within us too. Given to us first in baptism, strengthened in the sacraments, the Spirit brings a taste of heaven to our daily lives.
And the Holy Spirit is no small gift. The Spirit is the very life of God within us. That divine life makes it possible for us to survive death itself, when it comes for us.
Yes, we are dust. But God has a way of gathering the dust of our lives, breathing into it, and then giving us new life. We believe that even our ashes will be raised and glorified—we say that we believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
Jesus is our Messiah, our Savior—just as He was for the woman at the well (and the young teenager, Chiara Badano).
So have faith in Him.
Hope in Him.
Trust in Him.
Pray this often: “Jesus, I trust in You.”
Have a blessed week everyone.