Delighting in God's will: A reflection on John Chapter 4

In the optional Gospel for the third Sunday in Lent we read Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4.  This is one my favorite passages in the Bible. I want to focus on the second half of the Gospel, when Jesus’ disciples return to the well.  A Samaritan woman who is so ashamed of her divorces goes to the well at the hottest point of the day to draw water to avoid being judged by people.  

Jesus is alone when He encounters this woman and asks her for a drink.  This is not just a passage about Jesus challenging social norms. Jesus is inviting this woman who has experienced hurt to find lasting love and nourishment in Him, not just nourishment from a well. Jesus reveals to her that He is the Messiah. When she hears this, she leaves her water jug behind to go into town and tell the other Samaritans what she has just heard.

Afterwards, Jesus' disciples come back with food and encourage him to eat: “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. 32-34.

What does Jesus mean by food? A great Scripture resource for textual criticism, interpretation of how the Biblical text is translated from ancient languages, is the Blue Letter Bible. The Greek word for food in verse 32 is brosis and 34 is broma. Both come from the Greek word bibrosko which means to eat. It means either eating physically or spiritually. A possible understanding of food in verse 32 is "of the soul's food, either which refreshes the soul, or nourishes and supports it" (Blue Letter Bible). In verse 34 food can be understood as of the soul's aliment, i.e. either instruction, or that which delights and truly satisfies the mind.  In reading the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible Commentary on John, Scott Hahn interprets Jesus' use of the word food. "The Father's will is the driving force of Jesus' mission" (Hahn 25). Looking at the translations of food mentioned above, Jesus finds delight in doing the Father's will.  Jesus is fully human and fully Divine. His human will does not conflict with His Divine Will (CCC 475).

During Lent, we are reminded to find satisfaction in following God's will and not our own. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are meant to help us do this.  Also, we need spiritual food for our faith journey. Receive the Eucharist. Pray to God, asking for His help to follow His will. If you’re not sure where to start, slowly pray the Lord’s prayer.

Hahn, Scott and Curtis Mitch. The Gospel of John. The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. Ignatius Press, 2003.