Friends and companions:
We celebrate the coincidence of reading the Gospel of the Samaritan Woman on March 8, International Women’s Day. A female figure who meets Jesus, changes and becomes an apostle for her community. Whether historical or a resource for catechesis, her great personality is an example for us all. As Charo Ramos aptly expresses in her commentary: «The Living Water of the Fountain that flows within every human being does not understand gender, culture, ethnicity, or religion».
Recognizing and respecting that Living Water in each person would resolve all the conflicts of humanity, whether in the form of wars, abuses, or marginalizations.
Starting this Friday, we will be able to read the new book Fray Marcos: ¿De qué me tienen que salvar? ¿Quién me tiene que salvar? It will be available in bookstores and in the online store.
There are some new entries in Cartas que nos llegan and in the Tablón de Anuncios.
Gospel and comments on the Gospel
John 4, 5-42. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink”… “How can you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan?”.
Michael Munárriz: Word and Eucharist. We have dynamited the channels of transmitting the Word.
**José Luis Sicre: Moses, the Samaritan, and the Drunkard**. It is noted that the Samaritan is changing her image of Jesus. At first, she considers him a simple Jew, who does not deserve great respect. Later, she discovers him as a prophet, knowledgeable of hidden things. Later, she wonders if he might not be the Messiah, someone who deserves all her consideration.
**Enrique Martínez Lozano: The End of the Search**. The dreamed and desired fullness is not found in the future or outside of us, but constitutes us in our deep identity.
Fray Marcos: God is only Spirit. Impossible to relate to Him externally.
Fidel Aizpurúa: Worshipers in spirit and in truth. To worship God in the Spirit is to worship Him in the spirit of Jesus, in His deepest longings, in His dreams of justice and happiness for humans, especially for the most fragile.
José Antonio Pagola: We don’t know how to savor faith. Perhaps, one of the greatest misfortunes of contemporary Christianity is the lack of “religious experience.”
Rosario Ramos: In the well of liberated dignity. Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman coincides with March 8, International Women’s Day. A clear example of Jesus’ liberating intention and the inclusion of women in all areas of life from the inalienable dignity they possess.
Selected articles for the week
**Sofía Buetas Faro: Mabel Ruiz: “Tradition has used women to be silent and submissive”**. The Women’s Revolt in the Church claims a new ecclesial organization where there is full access to all positions and services of the Church “so that gender has nothing to do with it, but that capabilities, gifts, and charisma do.”
**Jesús Bastante: León XIV, before the attack of the US and Israel against Iran: “We must stop the violence before it is irreparable”**. The Pope continues to follow “with deep concern” the “dramatic hours” in the Middle East, also looking at the attacks between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and demands “moral responsibility” to “stop the spiral of violence.”
**General Justice and Peace Commission: Justice and Peace condemns the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran: “An unjustifiable violence that violates sovereignty”**. No country, however powerful, can arrogate the mission of imposing its will on other countries, however unjust its regime may be, causing pain and death to innocent people.
**Jean-Charles Putzolu: Vicario general of Moscow: “The war in Ukraine must end”**. All the countless lives lost during this conflict speak for themselves. The desire is that this comes to an end.
**Gabriel Mª Otalora: Serving is a form of leadership**. We need to develop spiritual values so that leadership is positive and effective in social relationships and in the Church.
Vatican News: Church in Cuba, sign of charity and comfort: “We are here. And not with our arms crossed”. “The current situation is frankly difficult,” according to the testimony of Father Ariel Suárez Jáuregui, from Havana, describing the reality of his people and the work of the Cuban Church as a sign of hope and comfort.
Gerardo Villar: Ash. Colony. Christian life is a journey towards Resurrection and towards a joyful life with the Lord.
**Martin Scheuch: Diarmaid MacCulloch, historian: “There is no uniform teaching on sexuality in the history of Christianity.”** Presents the contradictions that Christianity has had regarding sexuality in its more than two thousand years of existence.
**Global News**. German bishops against the far-right party AfD: they have no place in the Catholic Church.
For more participatory and current Eucharists
Exodus 17, 3-7. The tormented people murmur against Moses because of their thirst, and the Lord grants them water.
Romans 5, 1-2 and 5-8. We are at peace with God, the love of God has been poured out into our hearts, Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
Florentino Ulibarri: Jar in Sychar. Jar broken into a thousand pieces… That is what I am at this moment, but I hope, Lord, that you will melt me again with your fire.
Vicky Irigaray: 3rd Sunday of Lent. Jesus recalls the need to replace our worship, sometimes empty and routine, with one of Spirit and truth.
Anaphore: Plural unity. Unity is not at odds with pluralism. Tolerance is the first step.
Benedictine Nuns of Montserrat. 3rd Sunday of Lent.
Multimedia material
**The Being is already in you, in all its fullness.** By Eckhart Tolle. Most people’s lives are driven by desire and fear…
**Be my light.** By Ain Karem. From the feeling of unity of the Trinity, we implore you to be our Light and illuminate our nights, to guide us in the life of Love.
Salomé Arricibita: The Desire of the Samaritan Woman. With musical collaboration by Teresa Nécega. Jesus knows our heart, our desires… the most intimate, those that constitute us. Who has not felt the thirst of the Samaritan woman?… the thirst to be truly loved, to not be set apart or looked at with suspicion, the thirst to fit in, to be happy with what one has… May we know how to be a pitcher to receive and share the water of life.
Into the Deep. By Luis Guitarra. We forget about the meaning of life and yet… we continue searching for what to believe. How much we have diverted our gazes: “we distance ourselves from the bottom and origin of the days, and we do not go deep.” Beautiful and inspiring song.
**Equipo Quiero Ver: Sed de plenitud**. In every human being dwells the deep thirst for meaning and fulfillment. Starting with Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, it shows that this thirst is not quenched by goods or successes, but by the “living water” that springs from within. Discovering that inner source, the presence of God, transforms life. Thus, faith and love lived in everyday life allow us to experience a fullness that continuously renews existence.
**The mysterious song of Lent of Jesus**. By Father Fernando Morales. Beautiful song of praise full of reflection for preparation of Ash Wednesday and Holy Week.
At the EFFA School, we provide the link to the study material where you can find all the talks and bibliography available, for those who were unable to see them or want to review them. The link to access the latest videos uploaded may also be useful.
And, as I promised, the letters will end with these three links: the letter of the week, the letter of last week and letters from other weeks. When someone loses -or doesn’t receive- the email with the news, they can use an old letter to access the new one.
A hug,
Inma Calvo
Fe Adulta is a 100% independent portal. We do not receive grants from any group. It is financed with the generous contributions of readers. We also do not have fixed fees. With the frequency that each person deems necessary, we receive income and publish both the entries and expenses, with total transparency. The accounts of the Fe Adulta Association can be seen at the link of the sum of all.
Also, the portal is supported by the purchase of books and by contributions to the School, whose figures can be seen in EFFA in figures.
To sign up a person for the weekly mailing, you must fill out the following form.
To unsubscribe from these emails: [unsubscribe].
English version translated with AI