Saint Rita Catholic Church and School in Webster, NY - An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings

“I AM He, The One Who Is Speaking With You”

In this Sunday's readings, we hear of the stark contrast between water that quenches physical thirst and the "living water" that quenches our thirst for the fullness of life with God for all eternity.

In our first reading (Exodus 17:3-7), we hear how the Israelites grumbled in the desert about their thirst for water and how God responded to their doubt and lack of faith with mercy. The Israelites grumbled, “Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?” God’s response of mercy was to instruct Moses to “Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink.”

In our Epistle reading (Romans 5:1-2, 5-8), St. Paul reminds us that this grace that God has freely given us through the passion and death of His only Son is truly unmerited and given purely out of the love God has for us, even while we were still sinners. “But God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

In our Gospel reading (John 4:5-42) we hear the story of the Samaritan woman who encountered Jesus at Jacob's Well. In their conversation about water and thirst, the woman is led into a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and the true nature of the "living water" of which He speaks. Jesus told her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst...” As part of this exchange, Jesus identified Himself as the Messiah that both the Samaritans and the Jews were waiting for. In response to her comment about the Messiah, Jesus said, “I am He, the one who is speaking with you.” Her increasing understanding and faith in Jesus led her to bring others to Jesus - a mission we Christians are called to as well.

In some ways, we may be like both the Samaritan woman at the well and the Israelites grumbling in the desert, with our minds fixed on our physical needs while Jesus is leading us to thirst for our spiritual needs, the fullness of life in Him. Would it be that we were as quick to recognize Jesus as the Samaritan woman. Perhaps we can pray for that gift.

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030826.cfm