May Jesus Christ be
praised and may his holy Mother pray for us.
She left her water jar
at the well. The Samaritan woman, who
came to the well to draw water, left her water jar. The water jar, the one thing needed to carry
the water that was needed, and she left it at the well. Something incredible, something amazing, must
have happened to this woman at the well.
Wells are interesting
places. Many interesting things happen
wherever people gather for water. A well
is a place of hospitality. It is a place
to be renewed and refreshed. In the
Scriptures, a well is even a place where future spouses meet each other. Interesting things happen at the well.
At the well, the
Samaritan woman met Jesus. The Lord
Jesus was waiting at the well. She was
seeking water. In the heat of the day,
she was seeking water. Seeking one of
the most basic needs of life, the Samaritan woman encountered the one who gives
eternal life. He asked her for a cup of
water. He approached her in her
solitude. He broke through the barriers
that separated them so that he could speak to her of the living water that
would unite them. Even though Jesus knew
her past, he spoke of the promise of her future. He awakened her faith. He gave her hope. He showed her the love that passes all
understanding. Through sin and
separation the voice of the Lord broke through.
Through sin and separation the voice of the Lord spoke to her. And she left her water jar at the well.
Saint Paul tells us
that while we were still helpless, Christ died for us. While we were still sinners, Christ gave
himself up for us. We did not deserve
his love or his mercy. We could not
deserve his love or his mercy. Like the
Israelites in the desert, we were in need and we were helpless. Like the Israelites in the desert, we were
tempted by Egypt, and we were far from the Promised Land. Yet while we were still helpless Christ died
for us. While we were still sinners,
Christ gave himself up for us. We were
thirsty, and Christ gave us living water to drink. We did not meet him at the well, but at the
baptismal font.
The Samaritan woman met
Jesus at the well, and she left her water jar.
We met Jesus at the baptismal font, and we left original sin and
separation. The Samaritan woman met
Jesus at the well and her faith poured forth like a spring within her. She left her water jar because nothing could
be as important as announcing the presence of the Holy One and bringing people
to Jesus. She came to the well with an
empty water jar and she left the well with the water of life and the message of
salvation. Something incredible,
something amazing happened to the woman at the well. Jesus was waiting for her at the well, and
she met him. Jesus is waiting for us
too. Amen.
Preached
at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Monroe, NC
