Today is the Sunday of THE FIRST BAPTISM SCRUTINY. Today the Church dialogues with all those asking to be baptised at Easter, to see if their motives are clear, and that they are well catechised and prepared.

The Scrutiny Gospel tells of the meeting of Jesus with the Samaritan woman, at Jacob's well.

This is an "icon" of the meeting that each one of us must have with Our Lord Jesus Christ, as we prepare to renew our Baptism at the great Easter Vigil.

Christ is the only one who can reveal to you and me, the full story of our life. He alone can explain the often hidden meaning of the family history that has formed us, and of the events that are now shaping our lives.

Only Christ can reveal the true purpose of all our sufferings and joys, our failures and successes, and of all that has been tragic or magnificent in our lives; and of all our human relationships.

The grace of this scrutiny is to be reconciled, to be at peace, with our history, and never to deny or reject it.

Where can this meeting take place? Where can we dialogue with Christ? Where? At Jacob's Well. That is the place where, tired and thirsty on our Lenten journey, we can find some rest and refreshment., Where is Jacob's Well?

It is the Sunday Mass, our weekly Eucharist, our Lenten Liturgy. Do not let this grace, this gift, pass you by.....

"HE TOLD ME EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER DONE"

Saint John Vianney, Parish Priest or 'Cure' of Ars, a village near Lyons, had the gift of 'reading hearts', and could literally 'sniff' out sin!

He 'scrutinised' the lives of thousands of people who flocked to him from all over France, and beyond, so as to make their confession.

Not every priest has such gifts. Pity!
And very few people are flocking to confession these days. Pity!

Will you make your confession before Easter? I sincerely hope so. This sacrament never fails, and God will provide a 'Cure' for you. Confess!

It is the lived experience of the Church that praying the Stations of the Cross can help us to experience God's tender love and mercy for US: and can move our hearts to COMPASSION for all those whose 'Via Dolorosa' in life may be far more sorrowful or painful than our own. Make the Stations of the Cross this week.