WATER FOR ETERNAL LIFE

 

Have you ever asked a total stranger for a drink? Every time you go to a restaurant, you ask a stranger – the person waiting at the counter or your table – to bring you something to drink.

I mention that because in our Gospel today (John 4:5ff), Jesus was tired from a journey. He was sitting near a well to rest. All of a sudden, he asked this total stranger to give him a drink of water. We know that she was surprised because she said to Jesus, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” St. John knew that we would not understand this, so he added that Jews and Samaritans were not friendly to one another. Today, it might be like a Ukrainian asking a Russian for a drink of water.

The point of John’s Gospel is to tell us that the water that Jesus gives will become in us a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

The conversation between Jesus and the woman continues, but about the Messiah that both Jews and Samaritans expected. When Jesus tells her that he is the Messiah or the Christ, she goes to her village and tells everyone about Jesus. Soon, all the villagers come to Jesus and invite him to stay with them.

You never know how a conversation with a total stranger will end. It’s important that you – like Jesus – have kind words to speak to others. That will offer you the opportunity to offer them water that will always quench their thirst. By that I mean that you will have the chance to lead people to Jesus like the woman did.

With that, let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless these and all children, and give their parents the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.