Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Give me a drink.” The Samaritan woman was surprised that Jesus a Jew would ask her for a drink as if he didn’t know that Jews and Samaritans did not get on. The woman said “what? You are a Jew and you ask me, a Samaritan for a drink” Jesus responded “If you only knew What God is offering and who it’s that is saying to you give me a drink. Jesus asking for a drink was an invitation to a conversation. There are so many benefits in a conversation. A few of these: a conversation helps to establish a relationship. It gives you a sense of value, it helps you to grow, it can challenge you, it can affirm you, it can give you a new perspective, it can showcase your personality, it can repair relationships, it can help you process the pain and confusion, it inspires and motivates and its where we learn.
How often do we enter into a conversation with the Lord?
Do you know what the Lord is offering you and I today? The Samaritan woman opened herself to the Lord, and Jesus in return opened himself to the woman and was able to tell her everything about her life. The openness of the Samaritan woman enabled Jesus to set her free. She got back to her sense of value and all that has been mentioned above about the benefits of conversation.
How many times have we opened ourselves to the Lord to allow him to set us free, from the baggage that are weighing us down?
Is it a baggage of; fear, shame, pride, jealousy, selfishness, prejudice, hatred, laziness, and tribalism to mention but a few.
Let us open ourselves to the Lord during this Lenten period and have time to converse with him so that he can set us free. “If the Lord sets us free, we shall be free indeed.
When Moses set the Israelites free from Egypt, when they got thirsty and hungry, they complained against Moses and blamed him. When challenges come our way, do we forget the good deeds of the lord? How often do we complain when we miss something, forgetting the many good things the Lord has done or provided for us? Can the Lord fail to provide? “Oh that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts”.
The Second reading tells us that “The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us”.
It is this love through the Holy Spirit that is inviting us to renew our relationship with the Lord, to give us a drink so that we do not get thirsty. The Lord says “All you who are thirsty, come and drink… Is 55:1”
Evangelista Busingye RSCJ
Thank you Eva for the invitation to converse
Thanks Eva for this beautiful reflection.
Thank you Eva.