Greetings on this the Third Sunday of Lent
Readings: Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42
Summary
The Samaritan Woman
Is the LORD in our midst or not? Oh, that today you would hear his voice. If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. The water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. We know that this is truly the savior of the world (Ex 17:7; PS 95:7b; Jn 4:10, 14b; Rom 5:8; Jn 4:42b).
Reflection
Lord, you are truly the Savior of the world; give me living water, that I may never thirst again (Jn 4:42, 15).
Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon (Jn 4:6).
Jacob’s well brings us back to the shared history and shared relationship… and that our rest in the Lord. The well is the place and hour where the entire covenant history meets one tired and thirsty person. It is the hour of revelation — the noon encounter that exposes and heals – prefigures the noon of the Cross – Jesus present in our deepest need.
In our gospel portion today, Jesus reminds us the Lord is in our midst: since the beginning From the exit of the Garden (See Gen 4:26b), to Abraham, to Jacob, to Moses, to Jesus incarnate and Samaritan woman’s personal encounter. Everyone is within the midst (and the mist) of the Lord.
Personal Reflection
It is a shared thirst in our gospel portion today. The woman thirsts – even beyond what she thought would satisfy – and Jesus thirsts for us to be reconciled with the Father. These thirsts are one in the same.
Give me a drink. Can now be understood as — let us share the Chalice of love.
This story today can be expressed simply: The Meeting of Thirsts. The Divine for the Human, the Human for the Divine.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030826.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry