Jesus thirsts . . .

 

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/031520.cfm


In 2004, the revolutionary work of the renowned Japanese scientist, Dr. Masaru Emoto, was published in a book entitled, The Hidden Messages in Water.  He discovered that molecules of water are affected by our thoughts, words and feelings.  He showed in his research, that when ice forms under positive conditions, (that is, when water is exposed to positive and loving words) then the ice crystals form complex, colorful snowflake patterns.  Then again, he showed that when it is exposed to negative conditions, the crystals that form are incomplete and dull in color. 

His findings imply that we can positively impact the earth. 

Since humans and the earth are composed mostly of water, his message is one of personal health, global environmental renewal, and a practical plan for peace that starts with each one of us. 

In today’s reading from Exodus, God’s hidden message in the water from the rock was that God was present in their midst.The story recounts the murmuring of the people in the wilderness and the miracle of life-giving water from the rock.  Truly, the people thirsted, yet rebelled against Moses and lacked trust in God. 

Here for these desert people, the messages hidden in the water invited them into a deeper awareness that God is truly the one that quenches all thirsts, satisfies all hungers, and fills all emptiness.  God was constantly calling them to the Promised Land but just as constantly they wanted to go in their own direction.  By not trusting God with their whole hearts, they found themselves going around in circles.

In our Gospel, Jesus is in pagan territory, enemy territory, in Samaria where he is absolutely not supposed to be.  But as usual, Jesus disregards the rules and regulations and breaks through boundaries and borders. 

He is tired and thirsty, sitting by the ancient well which belongs to Jacob, and then something extraordinary happens.  Jesus is approached by a woman, engages her in spiritual conversation and opens up to her in ways that he does for no one else and completely changes her.  Jesus doesn’t avoid her or reject her. 

He accepts her as she comes to him and he asks for her help.  He speaks to her about her life and tells her about herself, and she says, “I see you are a prophet.” 

Jesus called her to raise her vision beyond the immediate reality of water that satisfies physical thirst to what would satisfy her spiritual thirst. 
He challenged her to relate to God in ways beyond her conventional practices.   In this encounter, he does something absolutely astonishing.  He tells her who he is.  He becomes vulnerable, opens himself up and reveals himself to her, calling himself, “I Am,” – the name Yahweh gave to Moses in the burning bush.  Jesus says that he is the Christ.  He never has told this to anyone else – only to this Samaritan, this woman. 

With patience, he leads her beyond the limitations of her understanding.  Jesus brought her to the hope that she has met the Messiah she had heard about. 
For her part, the woman allows Jesus to lead her into a new understanding and experience of life, and in her joy she rushes to share her new vision with the people of her village.

Transformed in her hope, she then could share the joy of her discovery and bring her neighbors to Jesus.  Having fulfilled her task she then fades again into the background.  The townspeople no longer need her.  She has brought them to Jesus. 

The encounter with Jesus had transformed her life and she had received a gift that no one could take away from her.  For God’s hope does not disappoint, and God’s intimate love has been poured out into her very being - as it is written in our reading from Paul. 

Now with the grace of love, acceptance, faith, joy, truth and freedom the hidden messages within her own life-giving well are generously and abundantly shared with all who are willing to encounter this woman who now stands tall in her transformation.

Jesus is the “Gift of God” who is Living Water.  The secret message in Jesus, The Living Water is that he is the real well!  If we drink from Jesus we will never be thirsty again.  If we make Jesus the center of our lives, we will have a spring of water welling up from within us, giving us life, no matter what is happening around us!

So let us ask this Woman at the Well to walk with us during these Lenten days, and let her guide us in our journey of faith, hope and love, so that we, too, will be open to the Hidden Messages of the Life-Giving Water that our God so desires to pour into our hearts.