Samaritan Woman Leaves Water Jars Behind

Here is the translation of the Holy Father’s address prior to and after the recitation of the Angelus today to the faithful collected in St. Peter’s Square.

Dear brothers and sisters, hi.

[simpleazon-image align=”left” asin=”1601374585″ locale=”us” height=”500″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DoPBMXXOL.jpg” width=”333″]Today’s Gospel provides us with the meeting between Jesus and the Samaritan woman in the Samaritan town of Sychar, near an ancient well where the woman had come to draw water. Jesus found himself seated at the well that day, “tired from his journey” (John 4:6). He right away says: “Give me a drink” (John 4:7). In this way he conquers the obstacles of hostility that existed in between Jews and Samaritans, and the mentality of prejudiced toward women. Jesus’ simple request was the beginning of an honest dialogue through which, with great gentleness, he enters into the inner world of a person to whom, according to the social norms, he ought not to have even spoken a word to. However Jesus does it! Jesus is not terrified. Jesus, when he sees an individual, goes forward, because he enjoys. He enjoys us all. Prejudice does not impede his contact with any person. Jesus puts the person before their circumstance, not judging them, but rather making them feel appreciated, recognized and in this way awakens in them the desire to move beyond his daily routine.

Jesus’ thirst was not for water but rather to meet a dry soul. Jesus needed to satisfy the Samaritan woman to open her heart. He asks her for a drink of water to bring to light the thirst that was in her. The woman is moved by this encounter: she asks Jesus those profound questions that we all have, but that we often ignore. We too have lots of concerns to ask, but we can not find the guts to pose them to Jesus! Lent, dear brothers and sisters, is the appropriate time to look inside ourselves, to permit our most genuine spiritual selves to emerge, and to ask the Lord’s assistance in prayer. The example of the Samaritan woman welcomes us to express ourselves in this way: “Jesus, provide me that water that will permanently appease my thirst.”

The Gospel informs us that the disciples were astonished that their Master spoke to that woman. But the Lord is greater than prejudices; this is why he was not afraid to engage with the Samaritan woman. Mercy is higher than prejudice. This we must learn well! Grace is higher than bias, and Jesus is really merciful, really! The outcome of this meeting at the well was that the woman was changed: “she left her water container behind” (John 4:28) and ran to the town to tell people about her amazing experience. “I discovered a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?” She was passionate. She went to get water from the well but found another water, the living water of mercy that wells up to eternal life. She found the water that she had constantly been searching for! She went to the village– the town that judged her, condemned her and rejected her– and announces that she has met the Messiah: someone who changed her life.

Every encounter with Jesus changes our lives, always. It is a step forward, a step closer to God. And therefore every encounter with Jesus changes our life. It is always, always this way. In this Gospel, we too find the inspiration to “leave our water jar behind,” the symbol of all that is apparently important however that diminishes before the “love of God.” All of us have one, or more than one! I ask you, and me: “What is the water jar, that which burdens you, that which keeps you from God?” Let us leave it behind and listen to the voice of Jesus with our heart. He provides us a different water, a water that brings us closer to the Lord. We are called to rediscover the significance and meaning of our Christian life, started in Baptism, and like the Samaritan woman, to testify to our brothers and sisters. Bear witness to what? To happiness! Bear witness to the joy of the encounter with Jesus, since I stated that every encounter with Jesus changes our life, and every encounter with Jesus fills us with joy, that delight that comes from within. And this is how the Lord is. And tell of how many fantastic things that the Lord knows how to do in our heart when we have the guts to leave our water jars behind.