Lent 3rd Sunday 2014

Exodus 17: 1–7; Romans 5:1–2, 5-8, John 4: 5–42

All water, except that which stands in pools or cisterns and jugs, is living water. “The water I give shall become a fountain within, which will in turn give eternal life.” In Jewish custom, the Torah is likened to living water. Barclay and The Jerome New Bible Commentary suggest the prophets use the expression to symbolize the Spirit of God. In Jeremiah 2:13 the Lord refers to Himself as the fountain of living water.

In the same passage, the Lord identifies two great sins committed against Him. A) the people have forsaken Him but also b) ‘they are using broken cisterns that hold no water;’ i.e. their religious practice is somehow spoiled (The Collegeville Bible Commentary.) It is possible that in speaking with a Samaritan woman, Jesus is recalling that the Samaritans combined Mosaic traditions with pagan ways, creating a damaged spirituality (The Gospel of John, Ignatius Catholic Study Bible). While forsaking Him is bad enough, corrupting “true” knowledge of Him to incorporate worldly ways into our religion is a sin as well. We tend to think of compromise as beneficial; perhaps the Lord does not feel this way in reference to Himself.

In the first reading, His people are questioning the divine plan and purpose of suffering. Despite their questioning, God does not chastise them. He simply meets their needs. Nor does Jesus, in the gospel, rebuke the woman at the well for having many husbands and living with someone not her spouse; He shows her who she is and follows that with revealing Himself to her. Understanding who we are, with honesty but not condemnation, leads to greater recognition of the Lord; and recognizing the Lord leads to recognizing His presence within, the fountain of Living Water that dwells internally.

Jesus comes to the well and meets the Samaritan woman at noon, the sixth hour. Six is a powerful number in Jewish culture because it symbolizes the cusp of fulfillment. The conversation becomes a game of “trade ‘ya.’ Jesus says, “You give me a drink of this physical water, and I will give you Living Water, i.e. the Spirit of God.” Christ goes beyond meeting the need for water, as did the Lord in the Exodus reading; He gives us a source of the Spirit of God which will not run dry, continually sustain us and serve us in this world and the next.

Reflection Questions:

What have been your attitudes towards, knowledge of, and experiences with water?
Do you perceive “Living Water” as scripture and Christ’s teachings, blessings bestowed , the Spirit of God and the attending grace, , or something else?
How has understanding yourself more honestly dovetailed with your understanding the Lord?

Writing Exercise:

Recount three separate occasions or experiences with water, as distinctive narratives, but tie them together with a unifying theme or detail. For example, you may write about a particular boat trip, an experience in which you got sick on water, and the first time you saw the ocean. You might focus on the smell of the water in each account, or highlight how your attitude and understanding of it changed because of each experience.

Creative arts:

Fabric arts- Using fabric or specific knitting, needlepoint, or crocheting switches, denote water. For example, you may cut up an old beach robe and rework as a quilting square, or you may work the various colors of water into your overall piece.

Paper arts—Create a piece with preferred coloring tools, but then treat the piece with water. Reflect on the effect that water had on the piece, (aside from wrinkling the paper.)

Home arts- Donate to an organization that helps provide clean water to those in need. Visit a water treatment plant and write about it. Create a water fountain of some sort for your home.

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