Scripture Study

Third Sunday of Lent – Cycle A

Opening prayer

Exodus 17:3-7 (Ps 95:1-2,6-9) Romans 5:1-2,5-8 John 4:5-42

Overview of the Gospel:

• This Sunday’s Gospel reading takes place early in Jesus’ ministry, on the heels of his baptism
in the Jordan, the wedding at Cana, and his conversation with Nicodemus about the need to
be born anew from water and the Spirit (John 1—3).
• Jesus and his disciples are traveling from Judea, north to Galilee. There were two possible
routes—through Samaria, or a longer route that bypassed that area.
• Most Jews making the journey avoided going through Samaria. This was because of the
longstanding enmity between the two peoples (verse 9) going back to Old Testament times
(Ezra 4:1ff). The Jews considered the Samaritans, who claimed some ancestry to the OT
patriarchs (verse 12) to be half-pagan (2 Kings 17:24-41).
• The meeting between Jesus and the Samaritan woman takes place at noon. Going to the
village well to retrieve the day’s household water supply was a task usually done in the
morning. The fact that this woman chooses a time when there would be no other women
around indicates she wanted to avoid contact with them, perhaps because of her reputation.
• These facts, coupled with the cultural and religious taboos against men speaking with
unrelated women, made Jesus’ addressing this woman all the more shocking.
• A careful reading of this story shows the gradual unfolding of conversion as Jesus, starting
from a casual conversation, brings her to a deeper understanding.
.
Questions:
• In the 1st Reading, from where does the water come from? Who does St. Paul identify this in
some way with (1 Cor 10:4)? What does Jesus promise he will give those who believe in him
(John 7:38)? In the Gospel, what does he promise the woman at the well (verse 14)?
• What is significant about the Gospel story taking place in Samaria?
• Since “nice girls” did not come to draw water at noontime, why do you think Jesus risked his
reputation to ask a favor of this woman?
• How would you describe the woman’s response? How does Jesus turn the tables on her in
verse 10? In the woman’s reply, what is she really saying?
• Why are the disciples surprised to find Jesus with this woman?
• What does leaving her water jar reveal about Jesus’ impact on the woman? How did she affect
others? What can we learn from her telling others about Jesus?
• Considering your interest in “spiritual things,” are you more like the disciples or the woman?
Why? Is doing God’s will as essential for you as eating food?
• What are you constantly “thirsting” for? How has Jesus satisfied you?

Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 439, 694, 728, 1179, 2557, 2560-61, 2652, 2824

Closing Prayer

Remember to read and meditate on the daily Mass readings this week!
Scatter your seed, apostolic soul. The wind of grace will bear it away if the furrow where it falls is not
worthy.... Sow, and be certain that the seed will take root and bear fruit. --St Josemaria Escriva
© 2011 Vince Contreras
Sunday Scripture Study for Catholics
www.sundayscripturestudy.com
 “Whoever drinks of the water that I
shall give will never thirst”
the Jews of thirst of the soul for God.
Gospel Reading: John 4:5-42
The water which Jesus spoke of
Meditation: Would you give water to symbolized the Holy Spirit and his
somebody who snubbed you or treated work of recreating us in God’s image
you like an enemy? Jesus did just that and sustaining in us the new life which
and more! He treated Samaritans, the comes from God. The life which the
sworn enemies of the Jews, with great Holy Spirit produces in us makes us a
kindness and respect. The Jews and "new creation" in Jesus Christ (2
the Samaritans who lived in Israel Corinthians 5:17). Do you thirst for
between Galilee and Judea, had been God and for the life of the Holy Spirit
divided for centuries. They had no within you?
dealings with one another, avoiding all
social contact, even trade, and inter- Hippolytus, a second century Christian
marriage. If their paths crossed it the love of God and the good news of writer, explains the significance of the
would not be unusual for hostility to salvation. There is only one thing that Holy Spirit’s work in us: “This is the
break out. When Jesus decided to pass can keep us from God and his water of the Spirit: It refreshes
through Samaria he stopped at Jacob's redeeming love – our stubborn pride paradise, enriches the earth, gives life
well because it was mid-day and he and willful rebellion. to living things. It is the water of
was both exhausted and thirsty. Christ’s baptism; it is our life. If you
Jacob's well was a good mile and a What is the point of Jesus’ exchange go with faith to this renewing
half from the nearest town, called with the Samaritan woman about fountain, you renounce Satan your
Sychar. It wasn't easy to draw water water? Water in the arid land was enemy and confess Christ your God.
from this well since it was over a scarce. Jacob’s well was located in a You cease to be a slave and become
hundred feet deep. Jesus had neither strategic fork of the road between an adopted son; you come forth
rope nor bucket to fetch the water. Samaria and Galilee. One can live radiant as the sun and brilliant with
When a Samaritan woman showed up without food for several days, but not justice; you come forth a son of God
at the well, both were caught by without water. Water is a source of and fellow-heir with Christ.” (From a
surprise. Why would a Samaritan life and growth for all living things. sermon, On the Epiphany)
woman walk a mile and a half in the When rain came to the desert, the
mid-day heat to fetch her water at a water transformed the wasteland into a Basil the Great (c. 330-379) speaks in
remote well rather than in the local fertile field. The kind of water which a similar manner: “The Spirit restores
town? She was an outcast and not Jesus spoke about was living, running, paradise to us and the way to heaven
welcomed among her townspeople. fresh, pure water. Fresh water from a and adoption as children of God; he
Jesus then did something no cool running stream was always instills confidence that we may call
respectable Jew would think of doing. preferred to the still water one might God truly Father and grants us the
He reached out to a Samaritan, thus find in a pool or reservoir. When the grace of Christ to be children of the
risking ritual impurity and scorn from Israelites complained about lack of light and to enjoy eternal glory. In a
his fellow Jews. He also did water in the wilderness, God word, he bestows the fullness of
something no strict Rabbi would dare instructed Moses to strike the rock and blessings in this world and the next;
to do in public without loss to his a stream of fresh living water gushed for we may contemplate now in the
reputation. He greeted the woman and out (Exodus17:6 ). Even though the mirror of faith the promised things we
spoke openly with her. Not only was Israelites did not trust God to care for shall someday enjoy. If this is the
she a woman, but an adulteress and them in the wilderness, God, foretaste, what must the reality be? If
public sinner as well. No decent Jew nonetheless gave them abundant water these are the first fruits, what must be
or Samaritan would even think of and provision through the intercession the harvest?” (From the treatise, The
being seen with such a woman, let of his servant Moses. Holy Spirit)
alone exchanging a word with her!
The image of "living water" is used “Lord Jesus, my soul thirsts for you.
Jesus broke through the barriers of throughout the scriptures as a symbol Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I
prejudice, hostility, and tradition to may always find joy in your presence
of God’s wisdom, a wisdom that
bring the good news of peace and and take delight in doing your will.”
imparts life and blessing to all who
reconciliation to Jews, Samaritans, receive it. “The teaching of the wise is Meditation: © 2011 Don Schwager
and Gentiles alike. He demonstrated a fountain of life” (Proverbs 13:14). www.rc.net/wcc/readings/
the universality of the gospel both in
"Living water" was also a symbol for
word and deed. No one is barred from