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Jesus wants to prove to this woman that he is not just a Jew (John 4:9), not just a great man like Jacob (4:12), not even just a prophet (4:19). He is the Messiah and Savior of the world (4:29,42)! He wants to show her that nothing she has done could prevent him from offering her his living water.

Third Sunday in Lent

Exodus 17:3-7

Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Romans 5:1-2, 5-8

J ohn 4:5-41  So he came to a city of Samar'ia, called Sy'char, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. (6) Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. (7) There came a woman of Samar'ia to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (8) For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. (9) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samar'ia?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. (10) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, `Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." (11) The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? (12) Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" (13) Jesus said to her, "Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, (14) but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (15) The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." (16) Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."

(17) The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, `I have no husband'; (18) for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." (19) The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. (20) Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." (21) Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. (22) You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. (23) But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. (24) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (25) The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." (26) Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."

(27) Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" (28) So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, (29) "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" (30) They went out of the city and were coming to him.

(31) Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." (32) But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." (33) So the disciples said to one another, "Has any one brought him food?" (34) Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. (35) Do you not say, `There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. (36) He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. (37) For here the saying holds true, `One sows and another reaps.' (38) I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." (39) Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." (40) So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. (41) And many more believed because of his word.

Meditation

Give me a drink. (John 4:7)

T oday’s Gospel gives us a glimpse into the power of God’s mercy and love. When Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well, he brings up her past: She has had five husbands and is now living with another man out of wedlock. But he doesn’t bring this up to condemn her or make her feel guilty. Rather, he uses this intimate knowledge about her private life to reveal himself to her.

Jesus wants to prove to this woman that he is not just a Jew (John 4:9), not just a great man like Jacob (4:12), not even just a prophet (4:19). He is the Messiah and Savior of the world (4:29,42)! He wants to show her that nothing she has done could prevent him from offering her his living water.

What a beautiful image of the Sacrament of Reconciliation! This woman comes to Jesus not even knowing how burdened, thirsty, and alone she is, but she leaves excited, fulfilled, and surrounded by fellow believers. She knows that her sins are forgiven and her guilt removed. She has tasted the living water of his mercy, and her life is transformed! Going even further, she doesn’t keep this good news to herself. She goes back to her village and invites her neighbors to come meet Jesus for themselves.

This is what Confession is all about. It’s about coming to Jesus and letting him set us free. It’s about letting Jesus gently probe us and bring our sins into the light so that they can be washed away. It’s about experiencing a mercy that goes far beyond our expectations and being so transformed by it that we want to share it with everyone around us.

B rothers and sisters, we all need the grace of Reconciliation. We all need to meet Jesus and his limitless mercy. So no matter how serious your sin—whether it be adultery, abortion, or even murder—know that Jesus is waiting for you by the well, ready to give you living water. There truly is no unpardonable offense!

“Jesus, I need your living water. Come and fill me with your mercy!”

GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU. – Bobot Apit

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