Third Sunday of Lent. Year A - Sunday, March 15, 2020

Third Sunday of Lent. Year A - Sunday, March 15, 2020

Readings for 3rd Sunday of Lent A
FIRST READING: Exodus 17:3-7

Ps 95:1-2, 6-7b, 7c-9. "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

SECOND READING: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. John 4:42+15). Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, you are truly the Saviour of the World. Give me living water, that I may never thirst again.

GOSPEL: John 4:5-42 - Samaritan Woman

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 1074985223. BOLOGNA, ITALY - APRIL 18, 2018: The icon of Jesus and Samaritans at the well; a scene in church Chiesa di San Pietro by Giancarlo Pellegrini. By Renata Sedmakova
++++
Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Third Sunday of Lent. Year A - Sunday, March 15, 2020 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-211-lent-3-a-2020/s-jS0TZ  (EPISODE: 211)
+++++
As our Lenten journey continues, We have the wonderful incident of Our Lord meeting and speaking with the Samaritan Woman at the well.  This extraordinary encounter and discussion bring home to us that Jesus came to bring about unity, through the salvation of the entire people of Israel, not just the tribe of Judah, but the whole of Israel. Including the Samaritan people and in fact people of every tribe, nationality or tongue.   Our Lord's sensitivity and care and concern for all people shines through brightly in this meeting.  
+++++
We are very familiar with this delightful meeting of Christ with the Samaritan woman at the well.  Even so, it is important that we always remain open to the many layers and deeper truths that can always be plumbed from God's living word, and approach this incident with minds and hearts open to being further nourished. 

There are so many wonderful elements in this scene. We know that even the disciples are described as surprised to see Jesus talking with this woman. It is often assumed that this is because he is speaking with a woman, but actually it is not so unusual that an exhausted and parched traveller might ask for some water from anyone they come across. The biggest surprise was that he was speaking to a Samaritan. And the most astounding thing for this lady is that he seemed to be asking for her to share her water container, as he had none. It was well known that Samaritans and Jews did not associate and certainty didn't share eating or drinking implements, for they thought of each other as heretics.  Despite this, they believed many of the same things and their practices were not so different. They differed massively in where the proper place for worship was, with Jews saying God's temple, and the Samaritans, Mount Gerizim.

Despite this, they had the same spiritual ancestors and were all descended from the different tribes of the originally united Israel, (combining Judah and Israel, the latter which included Samaria). 

Over the centuries many assumptions have been made about the woman at the well that are not necessarily borne out by the text. We are fortunate that as we collect more and more perspectives from the Jewish cultural practices and beliefs of the time, a richer window opens up to us.  For example, it has been often assumed that the woman was at the well in the heat of the day, to avoid her fellow Samaritans with the thought that she may have been a woman held in low esteem in the village. But, there is nothing to suggest that this is summertime, it could be the middle of winter. Also, the hottest part of the day would not be midday but 3 pm.

In any case, there are heaps of reasons a person might be avoiding their fellow townsfolk, other than sin; including illness, sorrow, depression, tragedy. She may have withdrawn from others due to what seems like a tragic series of events that had befallen her and her family. We know that the lady had been married several times but again it is unfairly assumed that she was morally poor, or a public sinner. Her husbands may all have died through tragedy. (Perhaps like the awful incident in the Book of Tobit where a woman's newly we husbands - all seven husbands in a row- each died on their wedding night – in that famous biblical scene, the people felt pity for her, and some thought she might be cursed, but they did not cast her out, but the woman in that scene felt shame and distress). Or this Samaritan woman's husbands may have divorced her, with no-fault attributed to herself, as only men could divorce women and without any particular reason.

Jesus points out that she is not married, as the man she lives with is not her husband, but again, this man could be a relative or a son. He could well be simply pointing out that with no husband she was in that culture and time-dependent on the charity of distant relatives.  This lady may have been depressed and downcast having suffered so much personal tragedy in her life...  The people might have felt that God was not blessing her, had abandoned her, because of all that had happened in her life.   Our Lord's gentle words can be taken to say, "I know all that you have been through. I know what has happened to you. God's Kingdom is for you too."  This would be very fitting of one who came to heal and to reach out to those bowed down.   

If the lady was truly an outcast, she would not be so readily believed by the townsfolk when she told them she had met the messiah. Why believe the word of a woman of ill-repute. We are told they believe her and go to see themselves and then believe no longer because of what she said but because of meeting him.   Astoundingly, we are also told something often missed. HE stays with the Samaritans three days.  He eats with them, stays in their shelter and talks with them. This is absolutely amazing. 

The other clue, is at the start...  It says..  the well is the one Jacob built...   the bones of prophet Joseph are buried here.  They are heirs like the Jews, to the promise of Jacob and Joseph and the forefathers.  Our Lord in deep theological discussion with the woman at the well, promises that he is the living water, from heaven...  and he offers her and the Samaritans this as well.  He indeed says salvation is from the Jews, but he is the Messiah, who comes to reunite the divided kingdom -- And it is the reunited Jews, (from Judah and from Samaria), he is preaching and bringing back into the fold.  When Our Lord tells the woman all about herself, she feels welcomed and understood. He is filled with compassion for her suffering. Is he comparing her to the experiences of Joseph, whose suffering at the hands of his brothers and his being sold into slavery in Egypt eventually led to the salvation of his family and his people.  Was Our Lord assuring the lady that her suffering and pain over all these years, will be healed by his ministry and inclusion. Through her inexplicable suffering, the Lord, the water of life, was giving not only her but her whole township new and eternal life... and reunion with the one Kingdom of Israel.

The most amazing part of this encounter is when Jesus says to her: "We worship in Jerusalem, and you on this mountain here..." (which sounds initially very inflexible and with no room to move for either "side")... but then he adds something that astounds and amazes everyone:   "but there will come a time when we will worship not on this or that mountain, but will worship God in Spirit and Truth."  That time has already come, through Christ, who is the living temple and from whom the waters of life flow to all. Christ, again finds ways of healing, reconnecting and unifying all people, not through compromise, but from a thoroughly liberating wider perspective and way of truth and life where all sides can move forward as God's people.  Jesus' example shows us that the solution to division and disagreement, is compassion, respect, listening, healing and lovingly being open to the fullness of vision that doesn't stand on narrow refusal to have a meeting of heart and mind.  
+++++
References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

The Samaritan Woman Reconsidered. Kindle Edition. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg  (Author), Pinchas Shir (Editor), Ludmila Lizorkina (Editor). ISBN: 1713300362. December 1, 2019

Gutiérrez, G. and Dees, C. (1997). Sharing the Word through the liturgical year. 1st ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 1074985223. BOLOGNA, ITALY - APRIL 18, 2018:The icon of Jesus and Samaritans at well scene in church Chiesa di San Pietro by Giancarlo Pellegrini. By Renata Sedmakova.
+++
Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful -   " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'.   E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy"  inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020.

[ Production -  KER -  2020]

May God bless and keep you. 

Third Sunday of Lent. Year A  (Sunday, March 15, 2020)  (EPISODE: 211)
Grace to you and peace fRomans God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
+++++++++++++
{{May Our Lord's generosity inspire you.}}

As we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery, let us admit our failings and ask the Lord for pardon and strength.
option two on the cards/ Have mercy on us, O Lord./ For we have sinned against you./ Show us, O Lord, your mercy. And grant us your salvation.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sunday Lent III
Eucharistic Prayer II
Communion side.  PWK:  RH
++++
{my heartfelt thanks for your participation in this time of reflection, prayer and praise.}

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.