Reflection for The Third Week of Lent (Year A)…
 Readings for Exodus 17:3-7 |
Never thirst again…
As we celebrate this Sunday’s liturgy we are almost half way on the journey we started in response to Christ’s invitation at the beginning of the Lenten season.
In the extract from Exodus we read how the people complained against Moses because of their terrible thirst. Moses in turn appealed to the Lord.
In the gospel passage from John we see Jesus himself tired and thirsty from his journey sitting by Jacob’s well. As we picture the scene let us take time to acknowledge our own thirst and what it might be that makes us tired.
When Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink she refused and then followed the conversation in the passage. After the experience of being with Jesus and listening to him the woman asks Jesus for some of the water that will take away all thirsts – that water that can turn into a spring inside of us. We might ask ourselves if we really want that spring of water inside of ourselves and if we in turn ask the Lord for some of that water.
After the request of Jesus for a drink of water, the woman pointed out that he had no bucket – evidently she was not prepared to share her water jar. However, after being with Jesus and being touched by his words and insight, the woman put the jar down to run back to the town to tell everyone about her wonderful experience.
The water jar that she had been holding on to then became unimportant. What kind of water jar do I hold on to that I don’t really need and which may hinder me from receiving and sharing?
Also, initially the woman felt she should not even be associating with Jesus who was a Jew but then she could not hear enough from him and even ran to share his words. Are there people who I think I should not associate with or who I look on with prejudice? Do I possess the zeal and excitement from an experience with Jesus that spurs me on to tell others of the words of Jesus?
We pray today that we will experience the love of God being poured into our hearts as highlighted by St Paul in today’s second reading.
– Damian Bresnahan SMA
Blackrock Road, Cork
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