We are in the Third Sunday of
the holy season of Lent. The readings of today are about water. The
significance of water is that it quenches the thirst. In the bible water is used
to destroy (flood at Noah’s time) as well as to give life (Exodus event). Water
serves as means for purification as well as the source of life. Water is used
to clean bodies as well as to sustain one’s life. In our Christian life, one
that purifies and sustains us is; GRACE. We need the washing of our sins
through baptism and the sacrament of reconciliation. Through these two
sacraments we receive the grace (Holy Spirit) to live a holy life. Baptism gives life and the confession restores life. They are waters for Christian
living. In today’s reading we hear about water which restores the fallen community
(Samaritans) as well as the water which sustains the chosen community (Israel).
In the Gospel Jesus
encounters the Samaritan women at the well of Jacob. Well is the place where
woman gather in large numbers to gather water. Normally, men come to the well
to water their cattle, if they are young they also come to find their bride
amidst those women. In the Old Testament all the encounters between man and women
have ended up in marriage, such as Jacob and Rachel (Gen 29), Moses and
Zipporah (Ex 2:16-22), also Abraham’s head servant found Rebekah for Isaac at
the well (Gen 24:12-21; 42-51). Today Jesus comes to the well as a bridegroom to
meet his bride. The bride is not just one Samaritan woman whom Jesus meets
first in the event, rather the entire Samaritan race. The Samaritans are former
Jews who have gone astray through mixed marriages under Persian invasion. They have
gone away from the right path. They are in need of restoration. Jesus comes to
establish peace between God and them by marrying the Samaritans. Jesus stays
with them for two days (Jn 4:40). Through Jesus God has dwelt among them. God’s
presence and grace has purified them from all their sins and enrolled them into
the Kingdom of God. Jesus was thirsty at the well. His thirst was not for the
water but for the souls of Samaritans. The lost sheep’s of Israel are restored
in today’s event. In this process Jesus never condemns Samaritans for their
sins. He doesn’t even humiliate the women who has had five husbands (Jn 4:18). He
gently reaches out to the lost and restores them beautifully. Jesus loves the
sinners the way they are but his love is too much that once they experience His
love they cannot remain the same – conversions and transformations would certainly
follow.
In the first reading we see the
people of Israel rebelling against Moses and God for not providing water to
quench their thirst. The people of Israel travelled 40 long years to reach the Promised
Land. Now they are in the midst of their wilderness journey. Thus, naturally
they get exhausted as they feel the heat of the wilderness. They wonder whether
the God who worked wonders in rescuing them form Egyptians is still remaining with
them. Because the hard life in the wilderness is no better than little joys which
they enjoyed back in Egypt in the midst of their slavery. They get tempted to
go back to Egypt. The wilderness journey is leading them to the Promised Land.
But the weight and heat of wilderness discourages them from marching ahead.
This is the case with every conversion story. The conversion is not mere shift
from sinfulness to holiness. Between sinfulness and holiness there is a
process, rather a journey – a wilderness
journey. It is in this process or in a period between sinful life and holy
life one gets trained how to live a life of holiness. In the midst of this
journey one gets tempted to go back either because s/he is finding hard in
getting transformed or s/he becomes fearful about one’s fidelity in fulfilling
the demands of the holy life. At this point of stumbling, the past looks more
beautiful and attractive than the future which one haven’t seen but holds only
in promise. We are also in the midst of our Lenten journey. There is more
chance to get tempted to give up some of our Lenten resolutions. If we feel the
need to do so, that is a clear sign that we are in the process of
transformation/conversion. Thus, we need to fight this temptation. How to fight
this temptation? We have to do it just as Israelites did. We need to fight with
God to give us sufficient water (grace)
to bear the heat of this wilderness
journey (spiritual transformation). In this journey we are not alone, we
have our God with us – Emmanuel. If we forget Him and try to do it alone, we
will fall. He is the source of our life and grace. Apart from Him we can do
nothing (Jn 15:5). Therefore, let us intensify our dialogue and relationship
with Him by frequenting the sacraments, doubling up our practices of piety and
constantly reading the word of God. May the living water flow in us continually
welling up to eternal life (Jn 4:14). Our restoration through the waters of
baptism be sustained through the waters of confession and penances. Let us thirst
for the grace of God to help and accompany us.
Wish you all a blissful Sunday!
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