As it was mentioned last week, in rejoicing in the Resurrection during the Pentecostal 50 Days, the Church arranged to present one of the “I am” statements each Sunday during this period. Refer to last week’s Sunday Contemplation)
Today, the 3rd Sunday of the Holy Fifty Days, the Church reads John 4:1-42 to explain the “I am the Living Water” statement. This passage narrates the interaction between our Lord Jesus Christ and a Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s well. The woman came to fill her jar from the well and the Lord asked her for a drink. Through this conversation, Jesus called out the Samaritan woman for what she had done in the past. Jesus later revealed to the Samaritan woman that He is the Messiah.
The story of the Samaritan woman is repeated throughout the year, multiple times, delivering a variety of messages. Most recently, we read the same Gospel on the Fourth Sunday of Lent concentrating our attention on the Samaritan Woman’s repentance. However, during the Holy 50 Days, the Church focuses on how Jesus is the Giver of the living water: “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14).
First, it is important to define what this “Living Water” truly means. In his Commentary on John 4:14, St. John Chrysostom says, “So also conversing with the woman, He calls the Spirit water; for, whosoever shall drink of the water which I shall give him, shall never thirst.” (St John Chrysostom on John Chapter 4). Echoing what is written in John 4, St. John also writes that “Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:38-39). The Living Water that Jesus Tells the Samaritan Woman about is then the Holy Spirit.
If the Living Water is the Holy Spirit, then we receive this Living Water in the sacrament of Chrismation; after all, we receive the Holy Spirit during Chrismation. Hence, this reading serves as a reminder of the importance of Baptism and Chrismation. As Christians, it is our opportunity to receive a gift He has given us and allows us to spend eternity with Him.
May we always continue to remind ourselves of the preciousness of Baptism and how the Holy Spirit is His gift for us. And as we are temples of the Holy Spirit, may we always continue to conduct ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to Him.
Sources:
- Chapter 4 – Patristic Bible Commentary (google.com)
- Bible, English Standard Version