SFHS Frosh Retreat; 2-7-18

Esther 5:1-5   Ps 95    Jn 4:5-42

Deacon Jim McFadden; St. Anthony’s C.C.

         Have you wondered why the source of “living water” would ask the Samaritan woman, an outsider, for a drink? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Many decades ago as a young college student, I read William Faulkner’s short story, The Bear (one of the few of his I could understand!), in which a hunter is pursuing a bear along a valley floor. Halfway through the trek, the bear (a metaphor for God) circles up the hill, comes down, and now tracks the hunter (a metaphor for us). It’s like the ‘Woman at the well.’ Why should God pursue us? He’s perfect, which means he is complete and does not need anything. Why does he ask us for a drink?

Let’s start at the well, which would have great significance for a Jewish audience, since many special events occurred at a well. Abraham reproached Abimelech at a well over a family dispute. Moses is at the well of Jethro, where he will meet his future wife Zipporah. Jacob also meets his future wife Rachel, probably at this very well, which is called ‘Jacob’s Well.’ So, a first century Jew hearing this story might be thinking that Jesus is looking for a wife!

In a way he is. Jesus is the bridegroom, who is longing to marry his bride. Who is the bride?—it is the Church and we, the People of God, are the Church. Christ is always looking for a bride. Jesus pursued the woman at the well and he’s pursuing you to be in an ‘I-thou” loving relationship that is meant to endure forever. Jesus is trying to re-establish that unity that was lost in Eden, where our first parents were at-one with God, each other, and in harmony with creation. Jesus is looking for a connection; that’s why he stopped at the well; that’s why he has stopped at this retreat.

            “A woman of Samaria came to draw water” (v. 7a) Here comes the Bride, here comes the Class of 2021, who will encounter the Bridegroom, looking for connection.           

“Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink” (v. 7). I love this reference. Throughout the whole Bible, especially the Psalms, we have references of our thirst for God: “As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My being thirsts for God, the living God” (Ps 42-43:2-3a).  But, here the 2^nd Person of the Trinity, the Word made Flesh who reveals the inner life of God, and He’s thirsting for us!

            As St. Augustine puts it, “Christ is thirsting our Faith.” Jesus is not some kind of abstraction or spiritual ideal, but a risen Presence who does not wait for us to come to him, but He comes to us in our most alone and isolated places. God thirsts for you, for your Faith.

What does Faith mean in the New Testament? I think it means Trust. Jesus is saying to you, “Trust, trust in me; let go, surrender, give me yourself. Allow me to share with you all that I am, which is Love.”

Sisters, this is so incredible: Christ is thirsting for your trust, for your friendship; He longs to be in relationship with you! Do you want to be friends with Jesus now and forever? If so, may you always be faithful to your baptismal call to trust the Lord. Amen.