Your Daily Bread

DO WE KNOW HOW TO LISTEN? | “In the Gospel for this 3rd Sunday of Lent, Jesus shows us a very beautiful virtue—one that our world greatly needs today.

Jesus knows how to listen.

When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, He did something unusual for His time. Jews normally avoided Samaritans, and a rabbi would not usually speak publicly with a woman. Yet Jesus crossed those barriers.

Instead of ignoring her, He spoke with her. Instead of judging her, He listened to her.

He listened to her questions. He listened to her story. He even listened to the pain hidden in her life.

We later discover that this woman had a complicated past and probably carried many wounds and disappointments. But Jesus did not shame her. He allowed her to speak.

And because Jesus listened to her, her heart slowly opened.

What began as a simple request—“Give me a drink”—became a life-changing encounter. By the end of their conversation, the woman left her jar, ran back to her town, and told the people about Jesus.

And many came to believe in Him.

In many ways, that transformation began with something very simple: Jesus listened to her.

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My dear brothers and sisters,

The Gospel today is very relevant to our time.

Many people today are like the Samaritan woman. They are thirsty—not only for water, but for understanding, acceptance, and hope.

Many people carry silent burdens.

Some struggle with poverty. Some carry heavy stress in their families or work. Some feel lonely, even when surrounded by others.

We live in a world where people speak a lot, post a lot, and react quickly—but sadly, very few people truly listen.

There is so much misunderstanding today because people no longer take time to listen to one another.

Sometimes a person does not need a long lecture or advice. Sometimes what they need most is simply someone who will listen to them with patience and compassion.

Pope Francis once said something very beautiful: “Listening is the first act of love.”

When parents listen to their children, trust grows in the family. When spouses listen to each other, relationships deepen. When we listen to the poor and those who suffer, we become instruments of Christ.

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This is also part of our Synodal journey as a Church.

We dream of becoming a Listening Church—a Church that listens to families, to the poor, to the young, and even to people of other faiths.

Because when people feel that they are heard, their hearts begin to open. And when hearts open, God can begin to work.

This is exactly what happened in the Gospel. Jesus listened to the Samaritan woman, her heart opened, and soon many people came to know Christ.

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So this Lent, let us ask ourselves a simple question:

Do we know how to listen?

Sometimes the most Christian thing we can do for another person is not to preach or correct, but simply to listen with love.

So let us pray today: Lord, teach us to listen—to You, and to one another. Amen.”

— Cebu Archbishop Alberto “Abet” Uy
Maymay sa Magbalantay | 08 March 2026

God restores what life slowly wears down.
Healing is often gentle and real.

(Mark 3:1-6)

You don’t need to be perfect to follow Jesus.
You just need to be willing.

(Mark 2:1-12)

Tonight, heaven touches earth.

The Savior of the world does not arrive with power or noise, but as a Child, placed gently in a manger, entrusted to loving hands of Mary and Joseph. (John 1:14)

May we welcome Him not only into our homes, but into the quiet spaces of our hearts.

Let us pray: "Come, Lord Jesus. We welcome You."