Third Sunday of Lent A February 24, 2008

John 4:5-42 (Jesus converses with the Sasmaritan woman at the well)  Jacob had purchased land on the outskirts of Shechem (Genesis 3:19), probably the same town identified in this reading as Sychar. The well was dug to provide water for Jacob’s herds. Jacob and sons moved their sheep around, apparently free to graze in uncultivated areas in the hills. To avoid conflict over water rights, however, Jacob had purchased the plot of land and dug the well. Women generally came out to the well to draw water in the morning before the heat of the day set in. The woman goes out at midday to avoid contact with the other women who looked down on her for what they considered a sinful life. She maintains a tough defensive exterior with Jesus at first, undoubtedly built up from dealing with the inevitable harsh and judgmental talk of the village women. Jesus gradually softens her with “life-giving waters” to the point that she initiates contact with her neighbors to tell them about Jesus.  She is converted from sinner to evangelizer, her history trandformed from cause for shame to opportunity for forgiveness and blessing.  She was refreshed with life-giving water, and Jesus was "fed" by the joy of bringing her from darkness into the full light of God's kingdom.

Reading 1, Exodus 17:3-7 God provides life-giving water in both this and the gospel reading today. Massah = the place of the test. Meribah = the place of the quarreling. The reading says that the Israelites tested the Lord. God was putting them to the test as well. The people grumbled against God and Moses time and again during their sojourn in the desert. The incident of bringing forth water by striking the rock is recounted in a bit different manner in Numbers 20:2-13. In that text Moses strikes the rock twice, interpreted as expressing a lack of faith, for which Moses will not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. This seems rather harsh, especially compared with the offenses of his fellow Israelites. It is history written looking backwards. In the logic of the priestly-deuteronomic tradition, things happen as blessings or punishments from God. Moses’ dying before entering the Promised Land had to be a punishment. Therefore, there had to be a reason, something Moses had done wrong. Thus the difference between the Deuteronomy account as compared with that of Exodus.

Reading II, Romans 5:1-2,5-8 Jesus Christ is the manifestation of the reality of God. That is why Jesus’ death proves God’s love for us. As I mentioned in commentary on Romans 5 two weeks back, sin and grace are relational terms that refer to separation or union with God. Righteousness does not come from ourselves…we cannot be “self-righteous”…but from unity with Jesus Christ. Unity with Jesus also brings peace and gives us hope...all in relationship with Jesus.