8 March 2026 - homily for the 3rd Sunday of Lent CYCLE A - John 4:5-42

I was reading a reflection on our Gospel reading about Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well from St John’s seminary in Boston. It describes this Gospel reading as reflecting so much that is essential to our Lenten journey. It is the story of moral conversion, the story of someone preparing to enter the faith and to receive the sacraments, and then the story of the joy of sharing the faith with others. Her process is similar to what goes on in the OCIA program, which is why this Gospel is tied to the first scrutiny for our catechumens. 

The story of the woman at the well is something we can all relate to, as it gives us a model and paradigm for Christian discipleship. Our journey as Christians is not primarily a series of teachings and laws and commandments. It is not firstly a code of behavior.  The heart of our life of discipleship is an encounter and personal relationship with Jesus, our Lord and savior. This Gospel story is about God coming to meet the woman at the well and inviting her into a life of faith and the path to eternal life. Jesus engages the woman at the well as she goes about her daily life. 

In the first step in this encounter, the woman at the well experiences conversion. Jesus asks the woman about her different relationships. With this revelation, she learns that to follow Jesus that she needs to abandon her sins and to resist her temptations. We cannot hide from God. We are called to commit fully as disciples. We cannot cling to a former way of life. Turning to the Lord involves change and transformation and renewal. 

In the second step, the woman of the well is introduced to the life giving water that will quench her thirst. The symbolism of water in the Gospel John points us to the waters of baptism and to the other sacraments of the Church. Our baptism in these living waters and the baptismal promises we undertake initiate in our Christian faith. 

In the next step, in her conversion and her renewal, the joy she finds in her relationship with Jesus is something she wants to share with others. Our Christian faith is not a private matter, not something we just keep for ourselves. The Good News of the Gospel is to me lived out in community, to be shared in community, and to be proclaimed to others throughout our community and throughout the world. 

In life in general and in our faith, we can get complacent and comfortable in our present reality and in what we know. Jesus tells us today through the story of the woman at the well that we should not be afraid of conversion, change, and renewal. Have we fully committed to our faith? Have we gone into our faith all the way. We should not fear the change and conversion that is necessary for us to follow Christ and his Church, to enter more fully into the sacramental life. 

The woman at the well offers a model for Lent. She has a real conversion and a profound relationship with Jesus and is very much on fire for the faith, so much so that she want to tell everyone in her village and bring them to Jesus as well. We are called to be on fire in our faith as well. To want to live out our faith each day. To want to be engaged in our relationship with Jesus. To want to be engaged in the Church and in our parish. To proclaim God’s kingdom in our words and actions. To live out the values of the kingdom. May we find that passion and live it out on our Lenten journey. 

8 March 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 3rd Sunday of Lent - prison ministry

Introduction: In our readings today, we hear of Moses bringing forth water in the desert to satisfy the thirst of the people. We hear of Jesus presenting himself as the source of living water to the woman at the well. May all of us in the Catholic Church find in Christ the life-giving water that only that he can provide:

Priest - penitential rite - 

Lord Jesus - you are a fountain of love and grace. 

Christ Jesus - you are our peace and our reconciliation. 

Lord Jesus - you are the way that leads us to new life. 

Priest: As hope does not disappoint, we continue to place our hope in the Lord as we present our prayers this morning: 

1. That we in the Church be a source of life-giving water for those who thirst for a spiritual home. We pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for those in the United States and throughout the world who do not have access to clean drinking water. We pray for those working to improve the water system in the city of Jackson. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For all nuns and monks who serve in the Church. May they be blessed and strengthened in their vocations and their ministries. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those preparing for entry into the Church at the Easter. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That all Christians may experience renewal and conversion in their lives of faith during this holy season of Lord. We pray to the Lord.

6. May we reach out to others in our community through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. We pray to the Lord.

7. For our first responders, for the men in women in the military, for our veterans, and for our medical professionals. May the Lord continue to bless them and keep them safe. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts today. For those who have asked for our prayers. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: God of goodness, we ask that you shower us with your blessings and respond to our every thirst. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

8 March 2026 - bulletin reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Lent

I think of how last week, I had different Lenten reconciliation services, which included our parish, the two parishes in Vicksburg, St Joseph school in Madison, and St Mary parish in Yazoo City. Making ourselves available as priests to hear the confessions of the faithful in different places around the Diocese is an important part of our Lenten responsibilities. If you have not gone to confession yet during Lent, we still have our confession times before the Saturday vigil mass at our parish here in Clinton. Also, this Sunday at the 10:30 am mass, we celebrate the tradition of the first scrutiny of the Church, a rite for those preparing for entry into the Church at Easter who have not been baptized yet. This rite reflects the Gospel reading today of Jesus’ interaction with the woman at the well. I wish you all blessings as we continue our journey through Lent. Father Lincoln. 

8 March 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 3rd Sunday of Lent

Introduction: In our readings today, we hear of Moses bringing forth water in the desert to satisfy the thirst of the people. We hear of Jesus presenting himself as the source of living water to the woman at the well. Today, we celebrate the first scrutiny for those adults preparing for baptism at Easter, where they will receive the water of new life. May all of us in the Catholic Church Christ for the life-giving water that only our Lord can provide. 

Priest - penitential rite - 

Lord Jesus - you are a fountain of love and grace. 

Christ Jesus - you are our peace and our reconciliation. 

Lord Jesus - you are the way that leads us to new life. 

Priest: As hope does not disappoint, we continue to place our hope in the Lord as we present our prayers this morning: 

1. That we in the Church be a source of life-giving water for those who thirst for a spiritual home. We pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for those in the United States and throughout the world who do not have access to clean drinking water. We pray for those working to improve the water system in the city of Jackson. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For all men and women who are members of consecrated religious orders. That they be blessed and strengthened in their vocations and their ministries. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For our catechumens and candidates preparing for entry into the Church at the Easter vigil mass. For our children and youth preparing to receive the sacraments of first holy communion and confirmation during the Easter season. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That all Christians may experience renewal and conversion in their lives of faith during this season of Lord. We pray to the Lord.

6. May we reach out to others in our community through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. We pray to the Lord.

7. For our first responders, for the men in women in the military, for our veterans, and for our medical professionals. May the Lord continue to bless and keep them safe. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts today. For those who have asked for our prayers. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: God of goodness, we ask that you shower us with your blessings and respond to our every thirst. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

6 March 2026 - homily for Friday of the 2nd week of Lent - Matthew 21:33-43 and 45-46

In the last few days at daily Mass in our Gospel readings we have heard Jesus tell his disciples that they need to be servants when he observed how the scribes and Pharisees were putting an emphasis on glory and honor. We heard about the rich man and Lazarus, how the rich man did not see the needs and suffering of Lazarus that were right under his eyes.  

Today, the Gospel turns to Jesus himself, telling a parable of the rich landowner and the vineyard, in which Jesus sees himself as the stone which the builders had rejected, which had now become the cornerstone. 

When I think of the stone which the builders had rejected, I think of the people that we ignore or throw away in society.  I think of the prisoners I visit at the state correctional institution here in Pearl and in the federal prison complex Yazoo City. Many of the prisoners are in living situations that no human being should endure.  I think of Whitfield state hospital where I used to celebrate Masses each week when I served as pastor of St Jude in Pearl. The men and women out there in Whitfield struggle with mental illness and other such diseases and illnesses; they have a lot of pain and suffering in their lives. Are those stones we as a society have thrown away? Are we unwilling to commit the necessary resources to these programs?  Sometimes, we often overlook the least and the neediest in society. What is God calling us to do?  

6 March 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 2nd week in Lent

Lord Jesus - you call us to faithfulness. 

Christ Jesus - you ask us to accompany you on your journey to the cross. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to have hope in the midst of our struggles. 

PRIEST: With faith and trust, we present our prayers to our God of love and mercy: 

1.  We pray for the grace to have a greater love for our families, for the Church, for our neighbor, and for our community.

2. We pray for all of our parishes in the Diocese of Jackson, that we may bear much fruit and may nurture all who seek the wonder and peace of God’s love.

3. We pray for peace in our world and for the victims of war and violence. 

4. We pray that all of us may dedicate time for prayer and reflection during this holy days of Lent. 

5. For a greater love and appreciation for the gift of the Eucharist. 

6. We pray for the sick and the afflicted. For those in the hospital, hospice, or nursing home.  

7. For all our children, youth, and college students. That the Lord will continue to accompany them in their studies and in their activities.  

8. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today. 

PRIEST: We ask, O Lord, that you hear the prayers we offer in your name today and show us the way to live our lives as you desire with love and kindness. We make these prayers through Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

5 March 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 2nd week of Lent

Penitential Rite: 

Lord Jesus - you call us to wisdom. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to accompany you on our Lenten journey. 

Lord Jesus - you are the beloved son of the Father. 

Priest: In faith and hope, as we continue our Lenten journey, let us bring our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. For all who are discerning God's call or beginning a new commitment.  That God will free them from fear and guide them along the path to new life. 

2. That we may rely upon God’s love and providence in the vocation to which he calls us. 

3. That God’s Spirit will help us find our direction in life and guide us in living out the teachings of Christ.  

4. For all those who are preparing for entry into the Church. That they may receive the Gospel message as a word of life. That they may grow in their knowledge and love of God

5. For all who feel unwelcome or unworthy before God. That God’s unconditional love heal and free them for all that is holding them back in living out their faith. 

6. For healing for the sick and the afflicted.  

7. For the faithful departed. For their entry into eternal life. 

8. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. 

Priest: With faith and hope, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.