Jesus Is Our Living Water

03-12-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp, V.F.

The first reading narrates how the people of Israel complained against Moses because they have no water to drink. Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people, a little more and they will stone me.” The Lord told Moses to strike the rock with his staff and water will flow from it for the people to drink. Moses struck the rock which made water come out and the people had more than enough. The provision of water for the people in the desert demonstrates to us that God cares for His people whenever they are in need. It is also a sign that God is the one who sustains our lives. If God can make water flow in the desert, it means that God can sustain our lives even in the most difficult moments and situations of our lives. In the desert of our lives, let us always call to God and He will answer and provide for us.

In the Gospel, we see Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman. The Jews and the Samaritans do not work together because they see themselves as enemies. The dialogue between Jesus and this Samaritan woman is evidence of how Jesus does not consider anyone as a foreigner, but everyone is equal before God. We saw in the first reading where the people cried for water and God gave them water to drink. In the same way, this woman’s need of water was also satisfied by Jesus. Jesus is a messiah and is truly the living water that satisfies our hunger and thirst. The conversation between Jesus and this woman teaches us a lot about the person of Jesus and His merciful heart. In the first place, He welcomes this woman who is known as a public sinner. He did not cast her out or reject her. Jesus is always there to welcome us even if we think we are the worst of sinners. He does not stop anyone from coming close to Him.

Secondly, Jesus wants to heal our broken lives and heal us from our sins the way He heals this woman of Samaria. The final message I would want us to take from these readings is that, just as Moses gave the people water in the desert and they were satisfied, Jesus gives us the living water to satisfy our thirst. Jesus is the only one that can satisfy our hunger. We need Jesus in our lives because without Jesus in our lives, our lives become empty. Let us ask Jesus to fill us with His grace and living water.

Fr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.

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