Homily for 3 Lent A, March 27, 2011

My sisters and brothers, let us drink of the Lord’s refreshment for our souls!

In the first lesson we heard today, God gives water from a rock to Israel as they wandered through the desert. The Israelites travel “by stages” toward the Promised Land. As God showed his power during their slavery, winning their freedom by inflicting ten plagues on the Egyptians, he now tests the Israelites’ faith in him, as provider and ruler, ten times. If they trust in him, he will save them. This reading is about one of these tests. God orders Moses to take representatives of the people with him. The elders see his show of power. They will certainly not miss that he uses the same staff he carried when the Nile was given its plague back in Egypt.

In the second lesson Paul talks about the Love of God for his people in Christ dying for us wile we were still sinners. Now that we are justified by Christ, that is, we are united in a sacred relationship with Christ, how much more will God watch over us.

Our gospel lesson is one of John’s beautifully crafted stories of an individual’s spiritual encounter with Christ. There are some details that are important for us to really grasp the story. Fist, Rabbis did not speak to strange women in public and Jews considered Samaritans ritually unclean, so the woman is rightly surprised by Jesus’ request. Secondly, “living water” has a double meaning in the culture of Jesus’ day. It’s a common expression for moving or flowing water and (in our story) a symbolic expression for the gift of faith. Initially the woman thinks Jesus is referring to moving water, then she remembers the legend about Jacob well: for him water rose to the top of this well and overflowed. So, she implies that Jesus is counting on such a miracle, quipping about his not having a bucket. Jesus contrasts the well water with “water gushing up to eternal life” making his meaning more obvious. Finally, as Jesus address her on a more personal level (talking about her past husbands) she makes the leap of faith and receives the spiritual renewal that Jesus was talking about in the symbol of life-giving water.

Water is one of the most basic essentials of life. It is also a symbol for God's life saving grace. We enter into a new existence in God's blessed grace through the life-giving gifts of Christ. I’m not simply speaking about baptismal water, but also about life sustaining grace. Which keeps us spiritually alive and refreshed; that metaphorical drink of everlasting life. This water, Jesus offers, is a drink for our inner, spiritual, thirst. A refreshment for that longing inside each of us that we really can’t name or get a grip on. This inner thirst is part of each of us and in our heart of hearts, know it. We feel it in those moments when we wonder: “is it all really worth it?” Those moments when we feel like we are busting our tails for nothing. Christ came to let us know that the answer is yes, it is worth it. Christ’s gift is the refreshment we need to keep going and not give up! The spiritual drink . . .

We need to ask our selves, do we drink regularly enough from the spiritual well Christ offers us? Communion is part of this gift, but also privet prayer and reading the scriptures. It all goes to refresh us spiritually. My brothers and sisters, let us drink deeply of this gift by having a conversation with God each day, as well as coming each week to worship and share communion.