3rd Sunday of Lent

Exod. 17:3-7
Cycle Rom. 5:1-2;5-8 19 Mar.
A John 4:5-42 2017

INTRODUCTION: We continue our Lenten journey. Today, we have the story of the woman at
the well where we have a great presentation of the dynamics of conversion and evangelization in
the Bible. Look at how Jesus does it!

(1) As the woman seeks, she has already been found. The woman is a seeker as we all are. As she
comes to the well, Jesus is already there (the primacy of grace). "It is not you who have chosen
me but I have chosen you." (Jn. 15:16) If only we would surrender to God who is always looking
for us, we would be in the right spiritual space. The question is not how do I find God? Rather,
how do I allow God to find me? The well is evocative of concupiscent or errant desires. We
satisfy our deepest longings with something less than God. "Everyone who drinks this water
will be thirsty again but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I
shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." ( vv. 13-14) The
whole of spiritual life is in these words. If you drink from the well of power, sexual pleasure,
approval, etc. you will thirst again. Why? All these are good in themselves but they fade away,
wear off, or run out. Hunger or thirst is for the infinite Good. What is the one Good that never
runs dry? The Divine Life which Jesus was offering to the woman -- all the benefits the Church
offers!

(2) Before grace can really flow into our life, one will have to clear the way. A good summary of
John of the Cross' teaching on spiritual life is how to make a helicopter land. The best way is to
clear the way for it to land. So is the spiritual life clearing the way for the flow of grace. Jesus
does this with the woman so discreetly: "Go call your husband" The woman answered: "I have
no husband." Jesus answered: "You are right in saying you have no husband. For you have
had five husbands and the one you have now is not your husband." (v. 16-18) The woman is a
prostitute which is why she was drawing water at noontime and alone which is usually done
early in the morning or in the evening and together with others. Notice too how Jesus did not
begin his conversation with moral condemnation but with an offer of grace like Pope Francis
does today. The issue is important for Jesus who was not indifferent to it. Certain moral issues
are addressed that was blocking the flow of grace in the case of the woman. Jesus is being quite
direct in naming what is disordered in her life was her sexual morality. Moral clarity is essential
for successful evangelization.

(3) Once the offer of grace and moral clarity is answered, people like the woman become
interested in God and engage in some theological discussion. Her concern was where does one
worship right? "Our ancestors worshipped in this mountain but you people say that the place
to worship is in Jerusalem." (v. 20) Jesus tells her: "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming
when you will worship the Father neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem. . . But the hour is
coming and is now here, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth."
(v. 23) In Jn. 2 during the cleansing of the Temple, Jesus himself declares that his body is the
Temple. Jesus is telling the woman not to be fussing around on where the true temple is but
where right praise happens which is the Body of Jesus! Now, the last step in conversion is: "The
woman left her water jar (meaning her past way of life), and went into the town and said to
the people, "Come see a man who told me everything I have done." (vv. 28-29) Once one is
evangelized, he comes to tell others as hungry and thirsty as he where bread or water is to be
found.

CONCLUSION: Do you want a master class on evangelization? Spend some time on the story
of the woman at the well.
Most Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, DD
Bishop of Novaliches