The Third Sunday of Lent
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
The Gospels were not written to be read by just anyone. Each of them was originally created as a handbook for preachers and pastors. Matthew’s Gospel was written by St Matthew for those who would be evangelizing the Jews. So St. Matthew selected teachings of Jesus, stories from His life, and specific details (like translations of certain Jewish phrases) to make the task of preaching to Jews easier. The same with Mark and Luke. St John is a little different in that it was written primarily for bishops of Asia Minor, all of whom were under John’s general leadership.
The Gospels, then, assume certain types of knowledge. Specifically, an understanding of the culture of the ancient world. This is why so many priests and bishops begin their sermons with an explanation of some detail of the Gospel which can seem entirely irrelevant. Of course, many of the details which are included in the Gospel stories are only there because they reveal some very specific and important context for the story.
Samaritans, for example, are not just a random racial or cultural group. If I were giving a talk or writing a story and I add the detail that a certain character is a member of the KKK or a German Nazi, that detail would define the whole character. It’s simply not possible to begin to comprehend my story without understanding that context. The people of Samaria were Jewish Heretics. They blasphemed the Lord by setting up altars on their own mountains and sacrificing to God there without reference to the Temple. All other Jews believed entirely that this would call down the wrath of God and would result in famines, plagues, invasions, and other catastrophes. Most of the Jews firmly believed that the Samaritan’s blasphemies were the fundamental cause of the Roman occupation and of, basically, every other calamity facing the otherwise Chosen People… We know - from our perspective - that Jesus intended to profess that belief to be false. But the people around the well in today’s Gospel didn’t know that. So the detail about this woman being a Samaritan is of GIGANTIC importance to the story.
Additionally, we get the seemingly minor detail that the story takes place at noon. What could that matter, right? It just adds a little color to the story. But that detail is even more important than the race of the woman! The time of day tells us that this woman was seen as an outcast even among her own people. She was both unwelcome to sit and chat with the women of the community who would’ve come a little after dawn to get water and to talk/gossip. Even though it would’ve been miserable to carry water in the desert at noon, she isolated herself. Of course, we’re told later that this is because she is a woman of loose morals. We’re also told that she is so astounded by her encounter with Jesus that she rushes into her community - despite her fear and embarrassment - to bring them to Jesus. This little detail about the time of day and this detail about her being a Samaritan are not just helpful, they’re essential. We can’t really understand the story - beyond its most basic form (Jesus is really great and offers us blessings) - without this context. In fact, that basic form - that Jesus is really good - can be misunderstood if we don’t know that this woman is a sinner and a heretic. Jesus isn’t just offering her some random blessing, He’s offering to correct and redeem the Samaritan misunderstanding of right worship. This isn’t a story about generous giving - it’s a story about the supernaturality of liturgy and worship.
If we lived in a world where everyone understood that the Bible is full of complex subtexts and contexts, I would be 100% in favor of everyone picking it up and reading. And I would trust that people would understand that any given story or passage needs to be understood in the broader contexts of history, theology, spirituality, and Faith. But in the world we live in post-Martin Luther, post- John Calivin where people believe (WRONGLY) that the Bible can and should be read uncritically and without any effort to understand the nuances, I advise caution. We should read the Bible, but with the constant awareness that the obvious meaning is not necessarily complete, correct, or even true. Thanks be to God for amazing works like the Bible in a Year podcast by Fr Schmitz and the multitude of excellent Catholic books which explain these all-important details and essential nuances!
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:00a Mass during the School Year unless otherwise indicated
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
- March 13 Lenten Potluck following Stations of the Cross and Mass in Parish Hall (see below)
- March 25 Pastoral Council meeting (Rescheduled) 6pm in the Parish Hall
- March 27 Lenten Potluck following Stations of the Cross and Mass in Parish Hall (see below)
- April 4 Easter Egg Hunt on Church grounds at 10 a.m. for parishioners and guests
For Your Information:
LENT The Season of Lent is meant to be penitential. It’s meant to be a time of deliberate and conscious discomfort in order to shake up our normal ruts and clarify our attention to the Lord and His Sacrifice for us and for our sins.
- Catholics aged 18 and up are obliged to abstain from meat on every Friday in the Lenten season. If your doctor advises otherwise, feel free to check in with Fr Ryan.
- Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On Fasting Days, only one meal should be eaten and that meal should not include meat or meat broth. If your work is strenuous, you may take some extra food once or, at most, twice. That extra food should be genuinely necessary and should also exclude meat and meat products. If your doctor advises otherwise or if your medicine must be taken with food, exceptions can be made. Feel free to check in with Fr Ryan. Please note, ice cream before bed doesn’t count as medicine...
- All Catholics are expected to “give something up” for Lent. As good as it might be to “do something extra” such as attend Daily Mass, say an extra Rosary, etc, Lent isn’t about doing something extra - it’s about giving something up. It’s a penitential season, not merely a virtuous one. As such, every Catholic from about the age of 14 should choose a food or activity which they generally enjoy and from which they can safely abstain for the entirety of Lent. As with all penances in the Church, Sundays are the Lord’s Day and fasting is not allowed! And so whatever you give up, you CAN have on Sunday.
LENTEN DEVOTIONS On the Fridays of Lent, Confession is available at 5:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m. followed by Mass. On March 13, and March 27, we will have a simple meat-free Lenten potluck after Stations and Mass as we have done in years’ past. Fr Ryan will make a hearty soup. FORMED.ORG has weekly features at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at https://signup.formed.org ROSARY GROUP meets on Monday at 5:30p for prayer and supper. Everyone is invited. Contact Louise Magoun (318-341-2403), coordinator for more information. MAUSOLEUM Construction will begin in Summer 2026. Our sales representative, Garth Daniels, can be reached at (318) 295-4409. If you have any questions or you know of anyone else interested in making a purchase, please encourage them to speak with Garth or to call the church office.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat & Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, & Eva & R L Reynolds/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of deceased priests of the Diocese of Alexandria
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Bryan Stamey/family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Delia and Thomas Trichell/T Trichell
- Thu 9:00a (at Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Joe Farlow/Bullard
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Kathleen Mills (birth anni)/Crothers
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Donald and Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of deceased priests of the Diocese of Alexandria
Altar Candles this week are burning in memory of Becky, Beverly, and Edgar Lancaster
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/7 5:30p | - | L Bullard | C Vandervieren |
| 3/8 9:30a | Michael, Finley, Ashlyn | K Collins | - |
| 3/14 5:30p | - | A Keene | M Ernst |
| 3/15 9:30a | Kathleen, Evelyn, Daniel M | Youth | - |
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| February Budget | $ 10.000 |
| February Collections | $ 17,864 |
| February Expenses | $ TBD |
| March Budget | $ 12,500 |
| March 1 Collection | $ 3,326 |
| March to Date | $ 3,326 |
Stewardship The blind man was willing to let Jesus minister to him and willingly did all Jesus asked of him. The Pharisees were more resistant to His message spending their time and energy to disprove the miracle. Which am I more like, the man born blind or the Pharisees?
SECOND COLLECTION (NEXT WEEKEND) will be for Catholic Relief Services which helps those who are vulnerable and needy, both around the world and right here at home!
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Levi Washington (March 10), Abby Ellerbee (Mar 12), Bobby Reynolds (Mar 12), Shannon Wood (Mar 15)
In Our Daily Prayers…
For our Pope, Leo XIV, our Bishop, Robert Marshall; and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Chris, Susan, and David Cagnolatti, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Phillip and Peggy Scurria, Mike & Sue Rome, Lori Sullivan
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Craig Cox, Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, Donna Fulton (Ellerbee), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan, Alex, and Palmer Gilfoil, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Patricia Lively (Wilks), Charles Howington, Callie Halbach Hyams, Jimmy Hopson(Wilks), Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Mike Morelli, Cole Norris, Randy Parker, Russell and Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, John Neill, Curt and Brianne Rome, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Debbie Kedrick Sims, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Chandler Wood
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
