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๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ’๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ค
๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐
๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก ๐, ๐๐๐๐
Dear Parishioners,
Grace and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
In the text from John’s gospel, we find Jesus resting at the old well of Jacob in Samaria. When a woman from the town of Sychar arrives at the well to fetch water, Jesus asks her for a drink. She is taken aback because Jews are usually reluctant to associate with Samaritans. Is he so thirsty that he does not know how to behave? Jesus explains that if she really knew who she was talking to, she would ask him for a drink of “living water”. The term was used in the Jewish tradition refers to the Torah (the Law). Jesus now gives it added meaning. The living water, given by God, is God’s Spirit revealed in Jesus.
The two sit there talking by the well in the hot sun, using words such as “Messiah”, “salvation”, “worship”, โGodโ, โtruth”, and “eternal life”. All that in a time when a man would not even address his own wife or daughter in public! The disciples return from the town and are so scandalized by his behavior that they decide not even to discuss it with him (John 4:27).
Jesus’ conversation with the woman is lively and dynamic. They listen and react to each other with great openness and honesty. Jesus amazes her by making a reference to her private life – how could he know such things? Then he makes her feel that her people are wrong in their religious beliefs. This probably angers her. When Jesus says, “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know; for salvation comes from the Jews,” he must see an angry scowl on her face. He adds, “But the hour will come -” and then, looking at her eyes, he continues, “in fact, it is here already – when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truthโฆ”(4:23).
Jesus is gradually leading her into the realization of who he is. From thinking at first that he was a hostile Jewish traveler, she then wonders if he is a prophet, and finally mentions the Messiah. At this point, Jesus admits that he is the promised Messiah (ego eimi: “I am he”, 4:26). To no-one else does Jesus reveal himself like this. If John ever makes Jesus open his heart, it is to this Samaritan woman.
She forgets about her water, runs to the town, and tells others what has happened to her. The townspeople go to Jesus and invite him to stay with them for a while. After two days, they, too, know what the woman discovered at the well, “that he really is the saviour of the world” (4:42).
Have a blessed Sunday and an amazing Lenten Season!
๐น๐๐. ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ถ.๐ท
