March 15, 2020

The Woman at the Well

On this 3rd Sunday of Lent, we read the story of the woman at the well. John 4:5-42. This powerful story reminds us that Jesus thirsts for our faith and salvation.

God sometimes surprises us in our ordinary lives. This woman, who was an outcast, comes to draw water in the heat of the day not expecting to encounter her Savior. She does not recognize Him until His words melt the hardness of her heart and kindle in her soul a desire for living water, a symbol of eternal life and salvation.

It took this nameless woman a while before she finally realized who she was talking to and the significance of the gift He was offering her. We, too, often in our ordinary lives, fail to recognize the presence of Christ in every  moment of every day and every night. God is always present, not just when we happen to think of Him. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is presently thirsting for our faith and our salvation also! In our daily lives, no matter how estranged or sinful we may be in our dullness of heart, the Lord still seeks us out and longs for our faith. Part of our Lenten quest is to be more sensitive to the spiritual presence of the Lord in our lives. May God give us all the grace to respond to Him as this woman did, leaving our bucket behind, that which symbolizes our focus on the material world. Let us go forth as she did, proclaiming Christ as our Savior and the renewal of His Spirit in our soul.

Notice that when the disciples returned, they were urging the Lord to eat. But He said, He had food of which they did not know. He was nourished and rejuvenated by redeeming this woman. The Lord thirsts for you and me.

Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, the Lord nourishes us with His Word, Flesh and Blood. We know this to be true. But we often forget that our response to His love in faith is a way in which we become the joy of Christ! We seldom think of ourselves in that way. But this Gospel, reminds us that it is true. When we enter into dialogue with Jesus, when we allow ourselves to be challenged and nourished by Him, when we come to a deeper faith in Him, the Lord experiences refreshment and joy!

May our Lenten journey not only rejuvenate our own souls and very life, but also bring joy to our  Savior!

And like the woman, when we are filled with Christ and we go forth and share Him with others, we are invigorated by that act of discipleship and charity. Perhaps this is the ultimate circle of life, repentance, renewal, service, new life.

  God love you,