Third Sunday of Lent - March 23, 2014

Jesus reveals his true identity to an anonymous woman, and a Samaritan at that. She speaks about the Messiah only to discover that she is speaking with the Messiah! How does this woman, this non-disciple and non-Jew, this perfect stranger earn the right to such a direct revelation? Why does Jesus choose her? For the same reason he choose us. Out of love. The "woman at the well" did nothing to merit this life-changing encounter. In fact, the reading implies she was a sinful woman. Yet Jesus approached her first. He asked her for a drink, and then looked for an opportunity to offer her the "living water" that would quench her deepest thirst. Like the woman, who "left her water jar and went into the town" to testify, we are called to leave behind our old life of sin once we accept our new life in Christ. Indeed, Lent is the season that prepares us for such a dramatic rebirth. We pray and fast and give alms, not to earn the joy of Easter, but to be ready to drink it in.