Sunday marked the beginning of the third week of Lent. It seems that it was not long ago that we placed ashes on our foreheads, reminding us of our mortality (unto dust we shall return) and the Lenten summons to repentance, made tangible in our fasting, almsgiving and prayer. Particularly striking this week was the Gospel story of the Samaritan woman at the well, a narrative that gains additional significance against the backdrop of International Women’s Day. Celebrated as a foundational text by female theologians for its challenge to patriarchal structures, the story illuminates Jesus’ radical acceptance of the woman whilst acknowledging her humanity. Her profound belief and enthusiastic proclamation of her faith inspired not just her, but also her entire community, to seek Jesus. There are so many different aspects that one could focus on in this story around the cultural context of this meeting but today I want to focus on the idea that here was a flawed person, who was critically viewed, but felt acceptance from Jesus, and that sense of love prompted her to a joy that she could not contain.
Lent, therefore, unfolds as a season not solely defined by sacrifice but also by the substantial gains we make: a heart resonating more closely with the divine, a spirit that resists the lure of sin more robustly, and a life that mirrors the brilliance of Christ’s light more vividly. This season beckons us to live out our baptismal vow of holiness, embarking on a conscious path of metanoia—a transformation that is both deeply personal and shared within the community. Through this purposeful journey away from sin and its myriad effects, Lent offers us a potent opportunity for spiritual revival, drawing us closer to God and the hope imbued in Easter’s promise.
This past Sunday also brought us the first scrutiny of the elect. The liturgy’s prayers during this part underscore the critical theme of liberation from sin and its repercussions—a fitting reflection during Lent. They remind us that our deeds, words, and thoughts possess the power to free us. Lent challenges us to seek liberation not only from our personal sins but also from the pervasive consequences of sin that affect our relationships and communities. In this season, fasting, almsgiving, and prayer emerge not as ends in themselves but as means to achieve true freedom, paving the way for grace to flourish within and around us. In embracing our Lenten disciplines, we discover Lent’s true gift: the spiritual renewal that draws us ever closer to the divine embrace.
The Female Theologian 