Fr. Marsel R. Taruk sx
Third Sunday of Lent Year A
Readings: Exodus 17:3-7; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42
I remember a phone call from Fr. Christopher telling me about the ongoing project of water-well in one of the villages (outstations) in Fadugu. He told me that, after digging about 10 meters, they had found a big and hard stone which prevented the workers to continue digging in order to have a good water spring. I asked him whether the project will be closed or still to be continued. His answer was very interesting; the villagers were determined to continue the project and offered themselves to find another place and start digging a new water well. They have been longing for this project and they will not allow this obstacle to cease their opportunity to have a good source of water.
The first reading of Sunday’s Gospel centres around what we have most in common; a key desire within us, a longing, a carving, a thirst for God. The perfect symbol for the thirst for God is our common thirst for water - We can fast from food but not from water. Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well could serve as a metaphor for our great thirst; we languish for the living water. It satisfies and refreshes. It revives and cleanses. We die without it; this is our condition: we thirst.
It was a mighty thirst that led Israel out of Egypt, just as it was their thirst that led them to complain that even Egypt would be better than the dry, godforsaken desert. And it was their thirst that God would slake, even from a rock. God would be their well of life.
Jesus uses water as a symbol to the Samaritan woman about slaking her thirst forever, about putting a flowing fountain of water right inside her. He is telling about the longing each of us has, deep within, for the love poured forth from God in Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Thirst led the Samaritan woman not only to a well, but to Jesus who would refresh her spirit and renew her world. At the well, Jesus was the expected visitor who would welcome her. He was the alien who became most intimate. He was the stranger who drew to himself many. He was the unknown who would know her most deeply. It is very interesting that Jesus drew the Samaritan woman to himself, the living water, the fulfilment of every hope. Indeed, Jesus neither pointed finger on her problem nor condemned her life situation. But he called her to come to himself, to draw a living water that would satisfy her thirst, would wipe away her fear. Receiving his truth, the woman’s thirst was quenched. Believing him, yielding to his word, her desire were finally met.
Lent is an opportune time for us deepen our connection to Christ, the living water and to reach out the well of the living water to satisfy our thirst. The great truth is God’s thirst for us even in our sin. In fact, it is Jesus who asked the confused and searching woman for a drink. It is Jesus who reach out the woman; reach out each of us.
Yes, Jesus is the stream of love between God and ourselves. We are invited to drink of the mystery of this outpouring love, embodied in Jesus, the thirst of God in us, His “I thirst” from the cross is as much the voice of God as it is the stirring of a human heart. It is not Christ’s humanity alone that feels the preaching, It is his divinity too.
Finally, as a missionary, the story of the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well speaks powerfully to our missionary efforts and evangelization today. It reminds us that the Good News of God in Jesus is meant to overcome ancient hostilities and cross-cultural barriers. The gift of God in Jesus is meant for all who thirst for God. Jesus is the living water for those who thirst; He is the saviour of the world.
Third Sunday of Lent Year A
Readings: Exodus 17:3-7; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42
I remember a phone call from Fr. Christopher telling me about the ongoing project of water-well in one of the villages (outstations) in Fadugu. He told me that, after digging about 10 meters, they had found a big and hard stone which prevented the workers to continue digging in order to have a good water spring. I asked him whether the project will be closed or still to be continued. His answer was very interesting; the villagers were determined to continue the project and offered themselves to find another place and start digging a new water well. They have been longing for this project and they will not allow this obstacle to cease their opportunity to have a good source of water.
The first reading of Sunday’s Gospel centres around what we have most in common; a key desire within us, a longing, a carving, a thirst for God. The perfect symbol for the thirst for God is our common thirst for water - We can fast from food but not from water. Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well could serve as a metaphor for our great thirst; we languish for the living water. It satisfies and refreshes. It revives and cleanses. We die without it; this is our condition: we thirst.
It was a mighty thirst that led Israel out of Egypt, just as it was their thirst that led them to complain that even Egypt would be better than the dry, godforsaken desert. And it was their thirst that God would slake, even from a rock. God would be their well of life.
Jesus uses water as a symbol to the Samaritan woman about slaking her thirst forever, about putting a flowing fountain of water right inside her. He is telling about the longing each of us has, deep within, for the love poured forth from God in Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Thirst led the Samaritan woman not only to a well, but to Jesus who would refresh her spirit and renew her world. At the well, Jesus was the expected visitor who would welcome her. He was the alien who became most intimate. He was the stranger who drew to himself many. He was the unknown who would know her most deeply. It is very interesting that Jesus drew the Samaritan woman to himself, the living water, the fulfilment of every hope. Indeed, Jesus neither pointed finger on her problem nor condemned her life situation. But he called her to come to himself, to draw a living water that would satisfy her thirst, would wipe away her fear. Receiving his truth, the woman’s thirst was quenched. Believing him, yielding to his word, her desire were finally met.
Lent is an opportune time for us deepen our connection to Christ, the living water and to reach out the well of the living water to satisfy our thirst. The great truth is God’s thirst for us even in our sin. In fact, it is Jesus who asked the confused and searching woman for a drink. It is Jesus who reach out the woman; reach out each of us.
Yes, Jesus is the stream of love between God and ourselves. We are invited to drink of the mystery of this outpouring love, embodied in Jesus, the thirst of God in us, His “I thirst” from the cross is as much the voice of God as it is the stirring of a human heart. It is not Christ’s humanity alone that feels the preaching, It is his divinity too.
Finally, as a missionary, the story of the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well speaks powerfully to our missionary efforts and evangelization today. It reminds us that the Good News of God in Jesus is meant to overcome ancient hostilities and cross-cultural barriers. The gift of God in Jesus is meant for all who thirst for God. Jesus is the living water for those who thirst; He is the saviour of the world.