4 March 2018
Third Sunday of Lent
In the Gospel reading today we find a long narrative of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman. There are, indeed, rich literary and theological insights from the narrative. We can find many different themes in today’s Gospel such as Jesus’ supernatural knowledge, the notion of eternal life, the gift of the spirit, etc.
St. Thomas Aquinas, in his commentary on the Gospel of John, tried to look at the narrative from the perspective Jesus’ human and divine nature. First, Jesus was tired from his journey and rested at the well. So here Jesus reveals his weakness, although his power was unlimited, and he assumed his human nature. So Jesus, wishing to show the truth of his human nature, allowed it to do and to endure things proper to men such as being tired. But Jesus also has a divine nature and to show the truth of his divine nature he worked and performed things proper to God. So, Jesus shows to the Samaritan woman that his doctrine is the best water because it has the effect of water, to take away thirst, but a thirst much greater than natural water can quench. He shows this by saying: “You say that Jacob gave you a well; but I will give you better water. Here St. Thomas explains that the Samaritan woman, because she was sensual, understood in a worldly sense the natural water. Jesus points out that whoever drinks the natural water, or the water of sensual desire and concupiscence, although it may satisfy the appetite for a while, will be thirsty again, because the desire for pleasure would never be satisfied.
St. Thomas also looked at Jesus’s disciples as those who are aiming at the natural water like the Samaritan woman. The Gospel said that the disciples had gone to town and left Jesus alone. St. Thomas noted that this episode signified the way the disciples abandoned Jesus. They were supposed to provide water for Jesus, but they were not there when Jesus asked for the water. St. Thomas argues that while the apostles are mostly lowly fishermen and tentmakers, they still need a lesson of humility. These fishermen were the companions of the Messiah, which made them more deserving of respect than any king, more eloquent than philosophers and orators. These lowly fishermen, when they receive a promotion, must seek humility as they are not accustomed to such great honor.
Notice that Jesus is pointing out how easy it is for us to be tempted to drink the natural water of pride and pleasure. Do you think you need to hear that warning? Spend some time talking to Jesus about when you are tempted to drink the water of pride and pleasure. Bring any thoughts that have come up for you in your prayers before Jesus.