Satisfying a Thirst ~ by Ronnie Archer
In today's readings, we are taught about "satisfying a thirst" ...NOT with ordinary water from an ordinary well, but with water which will forever "quench our thirst" ...living water.
In today's Gospel of John, chapter 4, we hear the story of the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Verses 3 & 4 of that chapter tell us that Jesus was tired from his journey from Judea, on His way to Galilee, BUT that He "needed" to go through Samaria.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, but since the Samaritans were considered to be outcasts by the Jews, this woman was surprised by, and questioned the fact that Jesus, whom she recognized as a Jew, could even speak to her. Even more, to ask HER for a drink of water, because Jews had no dealings with Samaritans.
Jesus ignored all of the cultural practices of that time and took this opportunity to "minister" to her. When she questioned Him about having nothing to draw the water with, He told her that "whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but the water that He gives will become in them a spring welling up to everlasting life." The woman asked Jesus for THAT water. When He proceeded to tell her about her past, she recognized that He was a prophet. Jesus later told her that He was the Messiah. She believed and shared that WORD with her villagers and many of the Samaritans began to believe in Jesus because of that; but later THEY also believed because of hearing His word themselves.
We can all identify with the Samaritan woman, searching for God's love in our lives.
Moses cried out to God because of the grumbling of the people against him, because of their thirst. God answered Moses by instructing him in obtaining water.
We all go through "deserts" of life, making us thirsty and tired. We also can cry out to the Lord, casting our burdens onto Him. We have to exercise our faith in God, asking Him for the wisdom and strength that we need in order to keep rising to our challenges. Believing in, and trusting in God, will help us to handle our life's issues, enabling us to understand the deep mysteries of life.
When we cry to the Lord for help, believe that help is on the way. "Believe in God... God believes in us. We have what it takes to make it in life."
~ Third Sunday of Lent ~
~ Christ and the Samaritan Woman at the Well by Henryk Siemiradzki, 1886
~ Image from Free Christ Images
In today's Gospel of John, chapter 4, we hear the story of the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Verses 3 & 4 of that chapter tell us that Jesus was tired from his journey from Judea, on His way to Galilee, BUT that He "needed" to go through Samaria.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, but since the Samaritans were considered to be outcasts by the Jews, this woman was surprised by, and questioned the fact that Jesus, whom she recognized as a Jew, could even speak to her. Even more, to ask HER for a drink of water, because Jews had no dealings with Samaritans.
Jesus ignored all of the cultural practices of that time and took this opportunity to "minister" to her. When she questioned Him about having nothing to draw the water with, He told her that "whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but the water that He gives will become in them a spring welling up to everlasting life." The woman asked Jesus for THAT water. When He proceeded to tell her about her past, she recognized that He was a prophet. Jesus later told her that He was the Messiah. She believed and shared that WORD with her villagers and many of the Samaritans began to believe in Jesus because of that; but later THEY also believed because of hearing His word themselves.
We can all identify with the Samaritan woman, searching for God's love in our lives.
Moses cried out to God because of the grumbling of the people against him, because of their thirst. God answered Moses by instructing him in obtaining water.
We all go through "deserts" of life, making us thirsty and tired. We also can cry out to the Lord, casting our burdens onto Him. We have to exercise our faith in God, asking Him for the wisdom and strength that we need in order to keep rising to our challenges. Believing in, and trusting in God, will help us to handle our life's issues, enabling us to understand the deep mysteries of life.
When we cry to the Lord for help, believe that help is on the way. "Believe in God... God believes in us. We have what it takes to make it in life."
~ Third Sunday of Lent ~
~ Christ and the Samaritan Woman at the Well by Henryk Siemiradzki, 1886
~ Image from Free Christ Images
Labels: lent, sundayreflection
posted by mary ann @ Sunday, February 24, 2008
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