Lenten Reflection
“Reflection for the third week of Lent” David Preuss, Capuchin
"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (Jn 4:14) The woman at the well took Jesus literally at first, but as Jesus' conversation with her continued, she came to the conclusion that this man was a prophet; and indeed, he was greater than Jacob who had dug the well that they stood in front of. This man Jesus was not a well digger but a heart fixer; and the conversation was not about physical water, but about the source of life. Jesus came to change her life and sustain her in the midst of a dry and hostile environment. She tried to get into theological arguments about where people are to worship, but Jesus would not bite. She tried to be coy about her relationships with various men, but that was even a greater mistake. Utterly defeated (yet victorious), she told the people of the town, "Could he possible be the Christ?" Jesus brought her to a new way of thinking and acting; to a new life. How can Jesus come to bring us to a new way of thinking and acting? It must begin with our relationship with him. We need to shift our prayer from pleading with Jesus to support our ideas and plans; to inviting Jesus to shape our minds in a way that conforms to the mind of God. This means a shifting from intercessory-speaking prayer, to more contemplative-listening prayer. As life goes on, it is easy to seek our comfort zone: living in good decisions made years ago. Without movement water becomes stagnant. God calls us to constant movement and growth. For myself, my move to Detroit proved fruitful, but two decades later that decision could well become "old" unless connected to the living springs of water. I must continue to look for scriptural direction and Holy Spirit affirmation; and be willing to change course whenever the Lord calls me to. As it is, there are new challenges and new refreshment in my life. As you reflect on God's activity in your life, know that spiritual refreshment will come from allowing God's power to flow through you to the surrounding community. Be bold like the woman at the well; ask Jesus to tell you about your life and its direction. Come to the well and drink deeply,
Amen.