The Water Jar of Samaritan Woman

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Lenten Season - 3rd Week : Sunday*

*Gospel : GOSPEL - Jn 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42*

*First Reading : Ex 17:3-7*

*Second Reading: Rom 5:1-2, 5-8*

*The Water Jar of Samaritan Woman*

*1) Water Jar*

Water Jar is an important thing our life 

It is used to draw water, carry water, and to store water 

Water is the Symbol of life and water has the capacity to give life 

So water jar becomes very important thing in the context, since water gives life 

*2) The Empty Water Jar*

The woman comes with a empty jar to fetch water from the well 

The empty jar symbolises the life of Samaritan Woman 

Like that empty jar, the Samaritan woman was empty within herself 

She felt the emptiness of many things 

People didn't accept her. So she was feeling empty with regard to the acceptance

The emptiness of relationship

The emptiness of good reputation

The emptiness of genuine love 

The emptiness of real family 

The emptiness of good friends 

In other words she felt and faced emptiness in everything in her life 

*3) The Return of the Woman without the Jar*

After the encounter with Jesus, the Gospel clearly says, that the woman left the water jar and went back to the city or to her town 

Once she encountered Jesus, she was not feeling the need of  the jar 

The empty jar was completely forgotten because, Jesus gave her better jar with life giving water 

Once she experienced the Living Eternal water, there was no need of worldly jar with ordinary water to the Samaritan woman 

*4) The need of Leaving something*

In all the Gospels we see,  when some one follows Jesus he/she has to leave behind something or the other 

The fishermen left the nets and boat 

Matthew left his tax office with all the money 

Jesus asked the rich man to sell the property and to follow him 

Many who wanted to follow, left many things and followed Jesus 

The Samaritan woman left the jar and followed Jesus 

Leaving something is very essential thing to follow Jesus 

*5) My Life and the Water Jar?*

What does it symbolises in my life?

Jar, water and thirst, they go together. So what type of thirst I have 

Spiritual thirst? 

Material thirst ? 

Sensual thirst? 

Power thirst? 

Authority thirst

Position thirst? 

Thirst for people? 

Thirst for things? 

Thirst for God? 

My Jar will change according to the thirst I have? 

Is my jar filled with worldly things or eternal things? 

Am I ready to leave behind the worldly jars??

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*