| Exodus 17:3-7 | Rom 5:1-2.5-8 | John 4:5-42 |
-- Fr. Timothy W. Castor
During the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent, the Church’s attention is especially directed toward the Elect: the catechumens whom the Church has chosen to receive the Sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil—the Sacraments of Holy Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion. The readings and prayers are all focused on the three scrutinies which the elect undergo at this time—an opportunity for intense spiritual self-examination in preparation for receiving the Sacraments. Those of us who are baptized might be inclined to tune out with the thought, "this has nothing to do with me." But since we are preparing to renew our baptismal promises at Easter, this is a great opportunity of preparation for us as well. We should examine our hearts to root out whatever is sinful and to strengthen whatever is good. And all our hearts should be united in prayer for one another.
As we reflect on the Gospels for these three Sundays, three themes emerge: water, light, and life. In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers to the Samaritan woman at the well the gift of living water. In the Gospel next week, Jesus says that he is the light of the world. And in the fifth Sunday of Lent, Jesus proclaims himself to be the resurrection and the life.
Today’s Gospel was very long, so our reflection will be brief. But it’s important to understand exactly what it is Jesus is offering to the woman at the well—what he is offering to each one of us. Listen once again to the words of our Lord: "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.... whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
What is this "living water" of which Jesus speaks? In homily which he preached on this Sunday in 1987, our holy Father, Pope John Paul II, explained it this way:
From the further development of the events in today’s Gospel we may draw the conclusion that "water" signifies truth. In the first place it is the truth of conscience; at the same time it is the truth of being in close intimacy with God.
Indeed, as Jesus converses with the Samaritan woman he is arousing her conscience. How significant is this exchange of words: "Go, call your husband." "I have no husband." "You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly" (Jn 4:16-18).
Thus we have a reference to the truth of conscience. A person’s conscience is the "spring of water," and points out the way to eternal life. It points in fact to God, to whose gaze the entire course of man’s life, hidden in his conscience, lies open.
He is in fact the God who must be worshipped "in spirit and truth." "For such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" (Jn 4:23-24).
Thus, the Messiah has begun the journey which the People of God has been traveling for many generations, from the time of Jacob and Moses.
The Samaritan woman replies: "I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus says to her: "I who speak to you am he" (Jn 4:25-26).
So Christ has set foot on the path along which humanity has been traveling throughout the ages. He reveals in his person "the spring of water welling up to eternal life." He gives this water; he himself is this spring. He brings to humanity the Spirit of Truth, whom the Father "will send in his name" (cf. Jn 14:26). He himself gives him to his Apostles on the day of the Resurrection and then on the day of Pentecost.
At the Easter vigil, our beloved elect will be washed in the waters of Baptism, receiving the Spirit of Truth into their hearts and lives; our candidates will be received into full Communion with the Catholic Church through the Sacrament of Confirmation, deepening their commitment to live "in close intimacy with God." On Easter Sunday, we will all renew our baptismal promises rejecting sin and Satan, recommitting ourselves to the Faith of the Catholic Church.
[The instruction for the Scrutinies teaches that "the scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good. For the scrutinies are celebrated in order to deliver the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. These rites, therefore, should complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all." This is an excellent prescription for all of us.]
This season of Lent, therefore, is a prime opportunity for all of us to examine our consciences and to realign ourselves with the truth proclaimed by Christ through his holy Catholic Church. Then truly his gift of living water will become in our hearts a spring of water—a spring of truth—welling up to eternal life.
© 2003, Rev. Timothy W. Castor