Living Water
27/03/11 17:03 Filed in: sunday reflections
Water. Clear, cool, refreshing. Neccessary.
Life.
The Israelites wandering in the desert know that water is life. We often do not because it is so available to us, and many of us drink our water in disguised forms: soft drinks, lemonade, beer. But underneath it all is water.
Notice, from the first reading Exodus what is happening. The Israelites have just been rescued from slavery. They are lost in the desert, thirsty. They complain: why did you bring us out of Egypt if only to die here in this desert.
Are we ever like that? Why did you do this to me, Lord? Many times, our questions aren’t about material things. Sometimes we just question whether God is even with us, just as the Israelites did at Massah and Meribah. Part of this story is about faith, and we recognize that in both the second reading and the gospel. Paul tells us that we are justified by faith, and through faith, we receive grace from God. Now we may boast in the hope of the glory of God. Do we boast in that hope? Now, during this lenten season, is the time to ask that question. What is our hope? What is God’s glory?
It is the resurrection toward which we are reaching.
For Jesus reveals Himself in the gospel passage. He is the Christ! But what is Christ to you and me? We are not Israelites. We are like the Samaritan woman. This story at the well that Jacob built after he fought the angel brings the three readings together. Once more, God provided the Israelites with a source of life: this well. Once more, it was a contest between human faith and God. Jesus transfigures this story, now. For He comes to the Samaritan woman and says,
“If you knew the gift of God
and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water.”
Jesus offers us living water so that we will never be thirsty. He offers us eternal life. That is our hope in the Glory of God. Notice, also, that in offering Himself to the Samaritan woman, Jesus offers Himself to all of humanity. A time is coming when the true believer will worship neither on the mountain nor in Jerusalem. They will worship in truth and in Spirit.
We get a taste of what that worship is in the rest of the passage: it is reaping where we have not sown. In working to bring about the kingdom of God, we will worship together with Jesus, with God, in truth and Spirit. What is the nature of that work?
Feed the hungry
Clothe the naked
House the homeless
Or, love thy neighbor -- the Samaritan and the Jew and all people -- as you love yourself.
Life.
The Israelites wandering in the desert know that water is life. We often do not because it is so available to us, and many of us drink our water in disguised forms: soft drinks, lemonade, beer. But underneath it all is water.
Notice, from the first reading Exodus what is happening. The Israelites have just been rescued from slavery. They are lost in the desert, thirsty. They complain: why did you bring us out of Egypt if only to die here in this desert.
Are we ever like that? Why did you do this to me, Lord? Many times, our questions aren’t about material things. Sometimes we just question whether God is even with us, just as the Israelites did at Massah and Meribah. Part of this story is about faith, and we recognize that in both the second reading and the gospel. Paul tells us that we are justified by faith, and through faith, we receive grace from God. Now we may boast in the hope of the glory of God. Do we boast in that hope? Now, during this lenten season, is the time to ask that question. What is our hope? What is God’s glory?
It is the resurrection toward which we are reaching.
For Jesus reveals Himself in the gospel passage. He is the Christ! But what is Christ to you and me? We are not Israelites. We are like the Samaritan woman. This story at the well that Jacob built after he fought the angel brings the three readings together. Once more, God provided the Israelites with a source of life: this well. Once more, it was a contest between human faith and God. Jesus transfigures this story, now. For He comes to the Samaritan woman and says,
“If you knew the gift of God
and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water.”
Jesus offers us living water so that we will never be thirsty. He offers us eternal life. That is our hope in the Glory of God. Notice, also, that in offering Himself to the Samaritan woman, Jesus offers Himself to all of humanity. A time is coming when the true believer will worship neither on the mountain nor in Jerusalem. They will worship in truth and in Spirit.
We get a taste of what that worship is in the rest of the passage: it is reaping where we have not sown. In working to bring about the kingdom of God, we will worship together with Jesus, with God, in truth and Spirit. What is the nature of that work?
Feed the hungry
Clothe the naked
House the homeless
Or, love thy neighbor -- the Samaritan and the Jew and all people -- as you love yourself.
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