In the Heat of the Day

~~~ Third Sunday of Lent ~~~

~~Exodus 17:3-7~~Psalm 95~~Romans 5:1-2, 5-8~~John 4:5-42~~

...the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

The Samaritan woman came to the well as she routinely 

did to draw up water from the well.

It was a gathering place for the whole community.
She came alone in the heat of the day.
She was an outcast; she isolated herself.
Most others did not come to the well in the middle of the day,
 but rather in the cool early morning.

She may not have even been thirsty at that particular time,

but she came to carry the water back to her home for later.

It was her only choice, she would need water for later in the day.

She had no idea this day would not be like every other day.

Her routine was about to be changed forever.

The woman at the well was given grace 

as she listened to the words of Jesus.

His words flowed into her heart and soul and she was satisfied.

The thirst she did not identify was satisfied.

All living creatures need water to survive.

Without water a person quickly becomes dehydrated.

We find this woman dehydrated by her previous life of sin...
she had had at least five previous partners not necessarily her husbands.

 Jesus satisfies our thirst with living water.

Water that quenches our thirst for all of eternity.

This living water is not felt and has no taste.

Jesus comes to relieve us from our own dehydration.
He offers us water that will never subside...
water that will always satisfy our thirst.

Jesus met this woman at the well...
the well was a central meeting place...the well was significant.
Things happened at the well...friendships were made.
Even marriages took place at the well.

Jesus, a Jewish male, reaches out to this Samaritan woman.
He breaks open all social boundaries.
Jesus never let perceived boundaries prevent him
from reaching out to a soul in need.

The next time someone asks you for a drink...
who knows it just could be Jesus reaching out to you.

Blessed as Jesus comes to us when we are attempting to be invisible.
The woman at the well did not intend to meet anyone that day.
What a surprise God had in store for her.

Her soul was saved through her encounter 

with the source of the water...

Jesus Christ.

Peace.