Opinion: Reflection By Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

“Is THE LORD in our midst or not?” This was the statement of the impatient Israelites who were complaining in the desert. Moses intervened and God brought water struck from the Rock in Horeb. This is a very similar question I asked: Lord ta ama pa gaha tu comigo? In our desperate situations in life, we feel hopeless and helpless and doubts cloud our mind. We are asked to look at Jesus crucified and there in front of us is the answer.

"But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." This is the answer in the Second reading, Jesus died for ungodly humanity. Last night our Parish Priest Fr. Ben Villaflores celebrated mass in honor of our Pieta. He explained the importance of water to quench thirst and its significance to Jesus as the life giving water. However, because of abuses to our environment, water has caused destruction because of flooding and the calamities that go with it. Pope Francis in Laudato Si, calls on our greater participation to save our environment. We have experienced massive flooding and are entering a period of drought. Let us all be responsible stewards, conserve water, reuse and recycle. Plant trees!

Today's Gospel is a beautiful encounter of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. She from Gospel reflections, had to draw water early because people judged her since she had several relationships with men who were not her husband. But Jesus saw through her and made her realize her state and she found forgiveness to transform her life. She became converted and witnessed Jesus the Loving water who gave her a new meaning in life. She went around to proclaim Christ, the Savior!

"Lord, you are truly the Savior of the world; give me living water, that I may never thirst again." Jn.4:42, 15

In the end, people came to believe in Jesus. “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.” May we encounter Jesus this Lent to quench our thirst and His life-giving water to transform us anew.