No More a Stranger in a Time of Corona Virus Crisis

3rd Sunday of Lent: Readings: Exodus 17:3–7; Psalm 95:1–2, 6–9; Romans 5:1–2, 5–8; John 4:5–15, 19–26, 39–42

The Woman at the Well and Jesus

Listen to my Audio Homily

1. Today's readings at the liturgy are rich in content and practical in many ways. 
2. In the life of God, everyone is included and none is left out.
3. The reading from the book of Exodus tells us that whatever may be our temptations to criticise and be not happy with what we don't have, still God gives us everything we need. Our God is a generous God, a large hearted God and opens to us new possibilities even in our distress and dissatisfaction.
4. Who are these Samaritans? They were Israelites who escaped exile when Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom eight centuries before Christ (2 Kings 17:6, 24–41). They were despised for intermarrying with non-Israelites and worshipping at Mount Gerazim, not Jerusalem.
5. None of us in this world are left out but everyone is part of God's life. So there is no possibility of  inclusion of a word "alienation" or "excluded" in God's dictionary.
6. Jesus shows this in his conversation with the Samaritan Woman. He makes known to her who she is, especially her sense of exclusion from her own community and also by a larger society, because of her life which did not suit moral of the day. By making her known who she is, she recognises in Jesus not just a "Sir" but a "prophet", who speaks of God and for God. She recognises in Jesus, Messiah, the Christ, in other words, the anointed one. 
7. Jesus answers the Samaritan woman with these profound words “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (Jn 4:10). If I knew the gift of God, there would not arise any questions of doubt, suspicion or any other kind anxiety. I would not be a stranger to God and God to me. 
8. The episode at the Jacob's well indicate that Jesus was thirsty and looking for water. The humanity of Jesus is very vividly expressed here (Jn 4:7-9). Jesus did not shy away from asking what his physical body needed at the hour. He did not conceal human aspect of his life. 
9. In place of just simple water she is able to receive from Jesus the living water, which only the Son of God could give. Jesus takes the discourse from simple aspect of water to living water of eternity. He not only wins the Samaritan woman but also her village and the whole of Samaria. Moreover, Jesus spends his precious two days in that village along with his disciples. Jesus' capacity of winning over them is incredibly fascinating. Thus, Jesus satisfies not just the human physical thirst but also the spiritual thirst. 
10. Jesus is the answer to our questions. We need to hold on to him even in our distress and and in times of tribulations. 
11. With the spread of Corona virus around the world and in our own country, which is a serious threat to our life, we are called to be vigilant and do our best to keep us safe. But, on a far deeper level, we need to turn to prayer, to our relationship with God, to find comfort and peace that we need the most. This is a time to place ourselves in our Lord's hands and to ask for the grace to trust. Thus we may find a way out from this nasty disease. 

Prayer: Most loving God, Creator of us all, we turn to you to care for your people in need and in distress around the world. We thank you for your presence which you manifest among us continually and the peace you offer us daily. Send us your Spirit in this time of terrible distress which seems to be overtaking us and fill us with courage, faith and hope, so that we might be your instruments of love and assistance for others in need. Through this crisis of global illness, may we come together, as people of faith in a crisis so often do by your grace, and may we come out of it more united and more determined to care for those most in need. May the medical professionals find a right medicine to treat this Corona virus and thus save the humanity for your glory and praise. Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

3rd Sunday of Lent

15 March 2020