Lenten
Meditation - Gospel for the First Scrutiny RCIA – The
Woman at the Well
In
the story of the woman at the well, Jesus broke through the barriers of
prejudice, hostility, and tradition to bring the good news of peace and
reconciliation to Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles alike. He demonstrated the
universality of the gospel both in word and deed. No one is barred from the
love of God and the good news of salvation. There is only one thing that can
keep us from God and his redeeming love – our stubborn pride and willful
rebellion.
What
is the point of Jesus’ exchange with the Samaritan woman about water? The kind of water which Jesus spoke about was
living, running, fresh, pure water. Fresh water from a cool running stream was
always preferred to the still water one might find in a pool or reservoir. When
the Israelites complained about lack of water in the wilderness, God instructed
Moses to strike the rock and a stream of fresh living water gushed out (Exodus
17:6 ). Even though the Israelites did not trust God to care for them in the wilderness,
God, nonetheless gave them abundant water and provision through the
intercession of his servant Moses.
The
image of "living water" is used throughout the scriptures as a symbol
of God’s wisdom, a wisdom that imparts life and blessing to all who receive it.
“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 13:14). "Living water" was also a symbol
for the Jews in their thirst of the soul for God. The water which Jesus spoke
of symbolized the Holy Spirit and his work of recreating us in God’s image and
sustaining in us the new life which comes from God. The life which the Holy
Spirit produces in us makes us a "new creation" in Jesus Christ (2
Corinthians 5:17).
Fr. Phil
