We have come to an important moment in the Season of Lent!

Those preparing for Easter Sacraments celebrate the Scrutinies at the Sunday liturgy. These are moments of intense prayer as they journey to the living waters at the Easter Vigil. Here is a video that explains the Scrutinies:

The readings in the next few weeks focus on thirst, blindness, and life. Today, we deal with thirst.

During the long journey in the desert, the people of God grumbled and thirsted. God instructed Moses to strike the rock in Horeb. From that rock flowed water for the people to drink. The thirst of the grumbling people were quenched from the rock.

The Gospel sets us up at Jacob’s Well located in the West Bank. It is located forty one miles north from ancient Jerusalem. It is known to be one hundred fifty one feet deep! Churches have been built over the well throughout the past 4,000 years. This commemorates the place where Jacob pitched his tent. He also bought the land for “one hundred pieces of money” (Genesis 33:18).

Today, the woman from Samaria encounters Jesus. She has spent her life making the journey to the well. She lowered her jar into its depths. She pulled out water and placed the jar on her head. Then, she made the long journey home. This was the normal routine of her life … until this moment in today’s Gospel where she met the Master. She enters these stages that lead to her confession. Initially, she addressed Jesus as sir, then prophet, and finally Messiah.

Jesus masterfully and patiently pierced her heart for love of the Master. He gently drew her thirst to be loved, even after five husbands. He desired to give her living water so that she would not thirst again. Jesus knew the depths of her heart, the longing within her to be loved. The same is true for us.

In this season of Lent, recognize that the well of our heart is deep like that in Jacob’s land. The shepherd must lower the bucket. Then, raise the water from the well. This allows the sheep to drink. Sheep can’t drink from the well themselves. They need the shepherd to pour out the water for them.

It is Jesus who does the work within us to satisfy our deepest thirst. From his side, gushes the living water. He is the rock on which we must drink. He is the living fountain from which we will never thirst again. When Jesus obediently accomplishes the work of the Father, from his side will gush the Holy Spirit. We will drink and every longing will be satisfied.

Saint Paul reminds us that while we were still helpless, Christ died for us. So as we long to quench the thirst deep in our lives, look to Jesus. If you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. Allow him to pierce it with his gentle words of love.

Here is a fitting song. We join the woman from Samaria in pleading for this thirst to be quenched in us.