3rd Sunday of Lent (A) : 15th March 2020

The encounter between Jesus (from Judea – the Southern Kingdom) and the Samaritan woman (Northern Kingdom) is a significant unfolding of a sinner changing her total self to one who recognised Jesus as the Messiah. Upon this recognition, she left the well immediately and began to witness to the others the Messiah.

In Jesus’ time, the Jews worshipped on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem while the Samaritans built their temple on the mountain behind Jacob’s well. Jesus’ response pointed out the inadequacy of any building for ‘True worship can only happen in Spirit’.

Thus, this conversion account reflects how Jews and Samaritans became one and Jesus, and the living temple dwelt with them. In this encounter, Jesus led the woman deeper as they communicated by offering her a gift of ‘water’ that welled up to eternal life. Jesus was offering something that led to a new quality of life: a share of God’s life in eternity. With this, the woman changed her attitude and asked for this water that changed her life.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he dealt with the role of Jewish law and described so powerfully: “God shows his love for us that we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8)!

“Lord grant us the grace to recognise You in our lives and be converted to be Your true disciples bringing the Good News to others.”