24th February 2008 - THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT 2008
My family ran a newsagent shop in Clontarf for over 60 years and often when Ireland had nice summers we would literally be sold out of ice creams and cool drinks by the middle of the day. The hot weather made people very thirsty as they made their way down to Dollymount Beach for the day. Such was their thirst that many would not even wait till they left the shop untill they pulled the wrapper off the ice cream or pulled open the can of soft drink. In the gospel reading today Jesus comes to the well because he too is thirsty and asks the woman to give him a drink. There after begins a beautiful dialogue between a Jew and a Samaritan, between the human and the Divine.
How often it is that the pages of the gospel describe a scene that many of us can almost imagine ourselves there watching the drama unfold. The woman went to the well for water to quench her thirst but she went also in search of meaning in her life. Her initial hesitancy in speaking to a Jew soon disappeared as she warmed to the God Man. We are very much like that woman; we too are searching and are thirsting, not for water, but for meaning and purpose. The Lord invites us too to drink of the water he promised the woman. Survey after survey today tells us that many people in Ireland today are deeply unfulfilled and unhappy. The drug and alcohol epidemic are but a symptom of a much deeper search for meaning. Drugs and an abuse of alcohol may dull the pain for a time but they are no cure to a spiral of hopelessness that appears to be taking deeper root not only in Ireland but throughout much of Western Europe.
Where or how can we attempt to turn things around? I think we all need to concentrate once more on the face of Christ, the face that is presented to us today in our gospel reading. It is not a judging face or a face that shows disappointment. It is though a face that offers meaning to all of us no matter who we are or where we are on the road of discipleship. We remember today the beautiful words of the great St Augustine, 'you have made us for yourself O Lord, and our hearts will never rest untill they rest in thee. Amen.
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Homilies Archive
2009 HOMILIES
25th December 2008
Christmas
21st December 2008
14th December 2008
8th December 2008
Immaculate Conception
7th December 2008
2nd Sunday of Advent
30th November 2008
1st Sunday of Advent
23rd November 2008
Christ the King
16th November 2008
2nd November 2008
All Souls
1st November 2008
All Saints
26th October 2008
12th October 2008
5th October 2008
28th September 2008
21st September 2008
14th September 2008
7th September 2008
31st August 2008
24th August 2008
17th August 2008
15th August 2008
Assumption
10th August 2008
3rd August 2008
20th July 2008
13th July 2008
29th June 2008
22nd June 2008
1st June 2008
23rd March 2008
Easter Sunday
22nd March 2008
Easter Vigil
2nd March 2008
24th February 2008
17th February 2008
10th February 2008
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