Third Sunday of Lent
February 27. 2005


On a scale of 1-10, how thirsty are you?

“They” say that most American’s are chronically dehydrated. By the time you notice you are thirsty, you are already in some stage of dehydration. Ironically, they will also say our bodies tend to equate being under hydrated with being under nourished, so we will ‘eat’ to ease our thirst instead of taking care of the real problem. Our bodies are not able to completely identify the thirst correctly, so it chooses that which seems to answer the need. We are betrayed by our own bodies. It is fascinating science.

The problem is that our spirits have learned too well from our bodies. We thirst for that which will satisfy our deepest needs but constantly substitute something else for what we truly need. St. Augustine says: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.” Though we know that, though our souls and spirits have ample evidence of that deep thirst, like our bodies, we have searched in a dozen other places to quench the thirst other than God.

Today Jesus meets a woman who epitomizes our human condition. She sought desperately to find something which would quench her thirst. She comes to the well at noon – at a time that would guarantee that she would be alone. The layers of isolation and shame hang heavy upon her. She has tried everything – including five husbands – but nothing has quenched that thirst. Then Jesus offers her “living water,” that is, flowing water. She had good reason to be cynical and at first it seems like she mocks Jesus: “Sir, you do not even have a bucket…”

Usually we picture the Samaritan woman as young. Considering her marital history, she was probably no spring chicken. Over the years, she had developed a shell, thicker than a football helmet. Jesus gently lifted it from her. And like the body that realizes finally it is thirsty, not hungry, she latches on to Jesus in a conversation that is so tender and warm. Finally we hear her say: “I know the Messiah is coming.” “I am he”… And she knows she will not thirst again… because she is at the place of living waters.

In my own life – unless I do a little advance planning, some of my days off end up being very unstructured. There are some days which I love that. I just need to vegetate, to do little, to regroup. But there are others days when I am as restless as a caged tiger. Because I am thirsting for relationship. Thirsting for conversation. Thirsting to belong. And though I know I can call of folks in the parish and drop by or call friends, sometimes my soul confuses that thirst for something else. So I watch action movies. I’ll play Mah Jong solitaire on the computer. I’ll play the guitar or putter around my room and fill the time up anyway I can, and consequently, any way but the way that will really satisfy my thirst. I know that I need prayer. And I know I need conversation. But I choose neither, and like the woman married 6 times, it never works.

How thirsty are you? ON a scale of one to ten, what is the thirst like. Beware, for the stronger the thirst, the more likely we are to substitute something else for it… The good news, we are not nearly as thirsty for God as he is for us. That’s the lesson of the well. And that is the hope that brings us here this evening. Because God loves us, we draw near to this table, this altar, and these springs of living water. May we drink deeply today. May we drink deeply...