FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

STOP YOUR WHINING AND STOP YOUR COMPLAINING!

 

How’s that for an attention statement!”

 Today’s first reading and Gospel for the Third Sunday of Lent have many symbols – or as referred to in today’s language – many back stories.

 In Exodus we again hear the Jews complaining. In the Book of Numbers (20:2-13) we read a more detailed list of their complaints:

 The community has no water.

 They held an assembly against Moses and Aaron.

 The people quarreled with Moses, exclaiming:

 ·         Why have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness? For us and our livestock to die here?

 ·         Why have you brought us out of the land Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place?

 ·         It is not a place we can grow grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates!

 ·         And, there is no water to drink!”

 The Jews, their hearts hardening because of their seemingly dire situation, were obviously getting distraught and losing their faith and patience in both Moses and Aaron, but even their faith in God himself.

 Had the Jews forgotten all that God had done for them?

 ·         The ten plagues that God sent upon the Egyptians to win their freedom.

 ·         The Pillars of Cloud and Fire to lead them in their escape through the desert.

 ·         Parting and crossing of the Red Sea to escape the pursuing Egyptian army.

 ·         Turning the bitter water in the desert oasis into fresh drinking water.

 

 ·         The sending of manna and quail from heaven as food for their journey.

 ·         And then in today’s first reading God in a show of his power and concern, provides water to flow from inside a rock!

 HOW ABOUT US?

 What do we complain about that directs our hearts and attention on to ourselves – rather than direct our hearts towards God’s presence in our life?

 I don’t have enough money

My health is failing.

My job is terrible.

My marriage is in distress.

I’m not getting along in school.

I’m not smart – I’m not athletic – I’m not good looking.

I don’t have any good friends.

My family and friends - don’t understand or appreciate me.

The list can be endless!

You see, it’s easy to be caught-up in our own issues and problems – to be caught-up in our own world and forget all that God has given to us and done for us.

 Our spiritual hearts, like the Jews, can begin to become harden to God’s grace and presence.

 

GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS POWER OVER NATURE!

So God, as a sign of his unlimited power; and also for his caring and concern for them in their time of distress – causes water to flow out from a rock! Enough water to satisfy their needs!

 Today, God shows his very same unlimited power by causing his Body and Blood to “flow” from ordinary bread and wine.

 

JESUS ARRIVES IN SAMARIA

The Gospel (John 4:5-42) is also filled with many great symbols. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and stops in a Samaritan village – a village filled with the very people the Jews despise. The Samaritans, who in the mind of the Jews are as bad as, if not worse than, the Gentiles.

 Jesus is found alone sitting at Jacob’s well, a well which in its self has a very significant meaning is Jewish history.

WHERE ARE THE DISCIPLES?

 Jesus is alone!

The disciples are not with him.

Was something missing in their lives they went is search for?

Why have the disciples left Jesus alone?

 

The Gospel says that the disciples had gone into the town to go shopping! 

They all needed to go?

All of them!

None of them felt any necessity to remain with Jesus?

Could they not have sensed any need or blessing or honor to remain with Jesus?

 

ENTER THE SAMARITAN WOMAN.

 

The most startling aspect of this meeting and subsequent conversation is that it happens at all considering the animosity and rivalry between the Jews and the Samaritans.

 

THE SIGNIFICANCES OF THIS ENCOUNTER ARE MANY:

 

·         Jesus greatly risks his social and religious status and reputation by talking to this woman.

·         The woman is presently living in sin, but Jesus invites an encounter with her.

·         The woman is herself converted to belief in Jesus as the Messiah.

·         This Samaritan woman becomes an evangelist to her own people.

·         Jesus uses his encounter with the Samaritan woman to teach his disciples – and you and me - that God's mercy is without limits and is for everyone regardless of their state of grace – or lack of it.

 THE GIFT OF “LIVING” WATER.

The woman has doubts that Jesus can give her any water – living or otherwise – since he appears to have no means to provide it.

 Jesus tells her that the water he has to offer does not come from the well; but whoever drinks of the water he is offering will themselves become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

 

“GIVE ME THIS WATER, SO THAT I MAY NOT BE THIRSTY.”

 The woman responds:

“Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty.”

 Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come back.”

 The woman leaves her water jar and returns to the town, and says to the people,
“Come see a man who told me everything I have done.”

 THE "IMPROBABLE" EVANGELIST!

 Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in Jesus because of the word which the woman had testified,

Through Jesus, the love of God – the living water - has been poured into her heart.

Because the woman was receptive to Jesus word – of this living water – even though she was somewhat doubtful and did not fully understand all Jesus told her – she allowed this living water to permeate her life and her soul.

 How willing are we to allow this living water to fill our lives?

 How willing are we to share this living water with others?

 

LET US PRAY:

St. Paul’s Prayer:

       I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe. Amen.

(Ephesians 1:17-19)