The Samaritan Woman: Drinking Deep

By Tom Ponchak

I want to continue to break down the Gospel reading from the 3rd Sunday of Lent. Yesterday I examined the lessons Jesus taught us about evangelization. Today the focus is on the promise of finding true satisfaction and peace--Jesus' promise of life-giving water.

 “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst”
Reflecting on his life of searching for meaning, St. Augustine wrote, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." This statement is true for everyone, but the problem is our lives are so overwhelmed by distractions that we are rarely still or quiet long enough to listen to our hearts. Our modern culture is consumed with improving “quality of life” but our understanding of the meaning of life is so shallow that the things we chase ultimately lead to greater dissatisfaction.

 Here in this passage from John’s Gospel we see Jesus offering real meaning and purpose. He is the only satisfaction for our souls. Christ alone is our source of life, meaning, joy and fulfillment. He calls us to turn from the world and rely on him alone.

 Isn’t this the purpose of Lent? The whole idea of “giving something up for Lent” is to help us realize that the things we use to fill our hearts can’t really do the job. What is our well that we keep going back to looking for satisfaction? Do you use chocolate or ice cream to feel better when you’re down? Are you like me and escape into television when you just don’t want to deal with stress or life? Jesus is calling us to leave those wells behind and rely on him to fill us with what we need.

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