Living Water the Gift of God: Reflections on the Readings for the Third Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

If you haven’t already read the readings you can find them here.

Exodus 17:3-7
Psalm 95
Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
John 4:5-42

When we really sit down and think about it, God’s gifts are incredible. Despite our sinfulness He just keeps giving even though many refuse His graciousness and His wonderful gifts. It begins with the gift of life and follows with the gift of faith. How many of us thank God daily for the gifts we have been given. In the classic movie White Christmas Bing Crosby sings about counting blessings. Pope St. John Paul II wrote that the gift of life is the most basic gift; without it everything else is meaningless. But too often we take it for granted and even refuse it. The growth of the abortion industry and euthanasia programs is evidence of our rejection of God and His gifts. Anyone who votes for such programs or politicians that advocate them is complicit and needs to confess (see Catechism article 1868).

Closely tied to the gift of life is the gift of water. Water is a basic component of life. We can’t live without it. Its many properties sustain life throughout the change in seasons. In my mind water is scientific proof of God’s existence. And look at how it figures in the spiritual life, our faith life. The water of baptism is what brings us first into communion with God. It is also a common thread in today’s readings.

The first reading takes us to the sojourn of Israel in the desert (a sojourn is a journey, a temporary stay – they were headed to the promised land). Like many of us, given a little hardship and we long for the “good old days,” which for them now meant back to slavery in Egypt. They grumbled then and they grumble now. Moses pleads to God who gives him a way to deliver the people from their suffering, by striking the rock, from which water will flow that they can drink and so can their flocks and herds.

It is interesting to note that in the previous chapter the Israelites also grumbled against Moses and the Lord for lack of food and God graciously gave them the manna in the morning and quail in the evening.

Later on the Israelites will again challenge Moses for lack of water. In that incident God tells Moses to command the rock to yield water but Moses strikes the rock instead. Because he didn’t do exactly as he was told at that time God tells him, “you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:8-13) In both instances we see a reference to Massah and Meribah. Meribah means “contention,” massah means “the place of.”

The responsorial psalm hearkens back to the testing of God. Knowing the history of the Exodus helps us understand the guidance (and protection) God has provided for His people and the need for worship and thanksgiving. The declaration that we should not harden our hearts applies to us today, knowing the gifts we have been given. As the last verse says, Oh, that today you would hear his voice: “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, Where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.” We know of God’s works as we have the bible and the Magisterium to explain how fortunate we are, as well as the knowledge of Christ’s death and Resurrection that provides the hope St. Paul declares in the second reading.

Paul talks about boasting in the glory of God. Just as the Israelites complained though they had seen and benefited from the works of God, we should know what He has done for us. Then through our faith we have peace with Him through Jesus who “died at the appointed time for the ungodly.”

The second reading has a missing passage. Why it skipped a few verses is a mystery, particularly since this is Lent and those passages speak about suffering. They speak directly to spiritual warfare for which we hope to strengthen ourselves. Take a look for yourself: “Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope ...”

The selection given to us then picks up on the hope theme as well as referring to the gift of the Holy Spirit. So back to the water, we first receive the gift of the Holy Spirit through the waters of baptism.

Of course the bottom line of this reading is important and tells us that we have been given these gifts through the love of God: “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

The gospel reading takes place around a source of water, Jacob’s well in Samaria. Jesus meets a woman who comes to the well during the heat of midday so she can avoid the gossip, stares and condemnation of the other women who come at cooler times. Jesus asks her for water. Note that Jesus initiates the conversation, just as He does with us. He calls us constantly, but too often we ignore Him.

The woman scoffs at Him as He is a Jew talking with a Samaritan, and a woman at that, and has no bucket to withdraw water. Their conversation revolves around the well and drawing water but Jesus offers her something more; living water.

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible (ICSB) explains. “Living water” is an expression with two levels of meaning. The woman takes it to mean “flowing” water, i.e., a preferable alternative to stagnant well water. Jesus, however, is speaking of the life and vitality of the Spirit. Several prophetic texts depict the blessings of the Lord as life-giving “water.” In Jeremiah 2:13 God identifies Himself as living water. “[T]hey have forsaken me, the source of living waters.” (See also, Ezekiel 47:1-12, Zechariah 14:8)

The woman points out the differences of worship between Jews and the Samaritans at which time Jesus declares, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” Then He tells her, “Salvation is from the Jews.” This refers to Genesis 49:8-12 where Jacob tells his sons that “the scepter shall not depart from Judah,” which is the tribe of David.

She senses that something is different about this conversation and says, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Without hesitation Jesus declares that He is the Christ. As the disciples return, “The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, ‘Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?’” The joy of meeting Christ made her want to share it with others. Do you share the joy of your encounters with Christ?

In response to her declaration the people “went out of the town and came to him.” Soon many of the people of the town believed in Him. “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

Although salvation is from the Jews, Jesus died for the whole world. “[W]e have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2) In this case Jesus seems to be indicating that the Samaritans are ripe for redemption. Jesus tells His disciples who have just returned, “look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest.”

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)