LIVING WATER FOR A THIRSTY WORLD
Homily for the Third Sunday in Lent, Year A Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch Exodus 17:3-7; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42 On this third Sunday in Lent, our Lenten journey takes us to the well in order to quench our thirst. The Gospel readings (John 4:5-42) begins with a simple but profound scene: Jesus, tired from His journey, sits by Jacob’s well at noon. A Samaritan woman comes to draw water. At first glance, it appears to be an ordinary encounter, but within the context of the Gospel, it is anything but ordinary. Jews normally avoided Samaritans due to deep historical and religious hostility. Moreover, a rabbi speaking publicly with a woman, especially one of questionable reputation was culturally unexpected. Yet, Jesus deliberately crosses these boundaries. The scene already reveals something about God: He meets people where they are, even in the most unlikely places. This encounter unfolds around the theme of thirst. On the surface, it is physical thirst; Jesus asks the woman for water...
