In this weekend’s Gospel passage, we hear the familiar story of Jesus meeting a Samaritan Woman at the well. One of the focal points in this passage is WATER. This Samaritan woman is given an opportunity to receive living water from Jesus. Jesus first speaks to the woman and asks for a drink. Seems simple enough, but what we need to understand is that the Samaritans in general were despised by the Jews. No self-respecting Jew would ever speak to a Samaritan person, much less a woman (Whoa!!!)! Jesus didn’t allow Himself to be hemmed in by these “traditions.” Not only did He speak to the woman, He awakened in the woman a thirst for a certain wholeness and integrity which she had lost (she had a checkered past!). He spoke to her about a thirst which He had come to satisfy. Jesus revealed Himself to this woman as the Source of Living Water and teaches her (and us) that we need the grace of Jesus Christ for eternal life, because He IS that life-giving water. Jesus extended Himself to this Samaritan Woman and wove His message into her life. Jesus wants to do the same with us…to enter into our personal lives not to embarrass us, not to judge or to condemn us, but to FREE us, to change us and to offer us what we REALLY need: that living water of the Holy Spirit. During this Lent, let us open the door of our hearts and allow Jesus easy access. When we do this, He will come, dwell within us and strengthen us in such a way that we naturally witness to His life and message in our daily lives. Remember the statement made when you received ashes on Ash Wednesday. “Repent and believe the good news of Jesus.” It’s time, actually it’s overtime, for each of us to shift into high gear and let the living waters we experienced at Baptism work their wonder! Let us have the courage to "be" Jesus for others, especially in those "unexpected" places for unwanted people. Let us also have the courage of our Christian convictions to stand for truth and justice in our day-to-day life. Jesus expects this of us and He is patiently waiting for us to wake up and put our belief in Him in action. There is a Greek monastery at Mount Athos in which nothing female is allowed. Men can enter but not women, roosters but not hens, horses but not mares, bulls but not cows. Armed guards patrol the border to insure that nothing feminine passes the gates. It has been this way for more than 700 years. Separate but definitely not equal: that has been the attitude toward women of many churches through the ages. So, it's really remarkable that this particular Samaritan evangelist happens to be a woman. She would be as surprised about it as anybody. When she first met Jesus, she was surprised that He even talked to her. Once converted, she became an evangelist, enthusiastically introducing Jesus to her fellow villagers. Gospel Homework for the Week: Consider your Baptism and the waters that were poured over you years ago. Are you responding to the grace of God that is still being poured over you…every day?