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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Lent 3 Yr A
Introduction
Introduction
Most of us in first world countries have never faced the concept of “thirsty”. Most of us have ample water. But for those who lived in Jesus’ time, in the desert countries, water was an invaluable resource. And most of those folks had to go retrieve their water, from a well. How fortunate are we that our water is in our houses. Given that thought, let us not forget those in our country who do not have safe water to drink, regardless whether from a chemical accident, aging and ailing pipes, homelessness, or other. We who have good water to drink are "privileged" indeed.
We can be spiritually thirsty, however. And the lectionary for this Sunday is full of imagery about our spiritual thirst. The Israelites, in their exodus, brow-beat (and apparently annoyed God) with their whining. They were thirsty, and Moses with God’s help gave a quick response. We know that God hears our requests even when they are whines.
And the psalmist reminds us to be grateful for all that we have received, even in many cases without asking (or whining). The epistle from Romans speaks to God’s satisfying our spiritual thirst. So . . . are you spiritually thirsty?
Comments welcome.
John 4:5-42
John 4:5-42
Jesus came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, . . . A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” . . . The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” . . . Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”
sermons4kids: “Jesus wasn’t talking about our thirst for water from a well. He was talking about our thirst for God. The Bible teaches us that we have a thirst in our heart for the living God. And that is a thirst that only Jesus can satisfy. So when we have Jesus in our heart, He satisfies our thirst for God and we will never thirst again! Jesus is life! Drink up!”
Scripture: March 12, 2023—Exodus 17:1-7 (image); Psalm 95 (image) Romans 5:1-11 (image); and John 4:5-42 (image). A video/audio journey.
Collect: Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection:
Psalm 42:2 describes the psalmist’s thirst for God. For what are you spiritually thirsty?
What promises do you find in Matthew 5:6 and John 6:35?
Despite this woman’s five-husband past and immoral present, her future changed forever because of Christ. If you have a shameful history, what hope can you draw from Titus 3:3–7?
Like the Samaritan woman, Peter and John were compelled to share the good news (Acts 4:19–20). What have you seen and heard about Jesus that you’re ready to share with others?
excerpt from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 1 © 2013 Westminster John Knox Press.
Reflection: As you read John 4:5–42, think about the meaning of water—its symbolic qualities, its presence in nature, and its use in human life.
How is Jesus like water?
What are the things that are most necessary in your life?
Where do you get them?
Preparing for Lent: How's your one activity for Lent going? Set a bag to hold your “things”. Each day of Lent, find something that you no longer use and put it in the bag. Then during Holy week, give your bag of things to a local charity. How about #2 activity, participating in Lent Madness (Facebook page) or website. Lent Madness is a fun way to learn about the saints of our church. Each day you select one of two saints who you believe is more “worthy” to be a saint. Near Palm Sunday, one of the selected saints will earn the “golden halo”. And “you helped”!
Ear Worm:
“Jesus gave her water” gospel, upbeat version of old-time hymn, "will lift you up";
“The Well” by Casting Crowns, thoughtful;
“All who are thirsty” by Robin Mark, rhythmic, almost carribbean sound;
“Bring me a little water, Sylvie“, sung by women in United States Navy Band (go listen).
Eye Candy: “Christ and the Samaritan Woman”, Catacomb of Via Latina; “Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the well“, ca. 1420, reverse glass painting, note the woman's foot on the side of the well to give herself leverage for pulling up the bucket of water; “Woman at the well“, several years, by Wayne Forte, see the artist's progression and interpretation over time.
Christ at the well, Peter Koenig, https://www.pwkoenig.co.uk/Portfolio/christ-at-the-well
Brain Food: commentary by Pastor Bruce Epperly from Living a holy adventure website; commentary “The person who Jesus trusts himself to” by David Lose;
“Psalm of Living Water” by Miriam Therese Winter
Leader: You are like a mountain spring, O Fountain of Living Water.
All: I sip from the deep down freshness of Your never-failing love.
Leader: You are like a summer rain, O Sudden Benediction
All: drench my soul and quench my thirsting spirit with Your peace.
Leader: You are like a raging sea, O Storm upon my ocean,
All: breaking into bits my fragile bark as I learn to lean on You.
Leader: You are like a waterfall, Oasis in my Desert;
All: source of my heart’s survival in the press and stress of life.
Leader: You are like a cleansing flood, River of Reconciliation:
All: washing away the selfish self-serving signs of my sinfulness.
Leader: You are like a bottomless well, O Club of lifegiving water:
All: full up to overflowing. Praise be to you, Shaddai.
Parables: “The Green Mile” (1999), about nature of evil and goodness of creation; “Pay it Forward” (2000), simply how to change the world; “Abominable” (2019), animated film about the power of friendship and music.
Some eye-candy:
“Christ and the Samaritan Woman†Catacomb of Via Latina
“Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the well“, ca. 1420, reverse glass painting
“Woman at the well“, 2008, by Wayne Forte
Brain food:
commentary by Pastor Bruce Epperly from Living a holy adventure website
commentary “On Beatitudes and Blessings†by David Lose
“Psalm of Living Water†by Miriam Therese Winter
Leader: You are like a mountain spring, O Fountain of Living Water.
All: I sip from the deep down freshness of Your never-failing love.
Leader: You are like a summer rain, O Sudden Benediction
All: drench my soul and quench my thirsting spirit with Your peace.
Leader: You are like a raging sea, O Storm upon my ocean,
All: breaking into bits my fragile bark as I learn to lean on You.
Leader: You are like a waterfall, Oasis in my Desert;
All: source of my heart’s survival in the press and stress of life.
Leader: You are like a cleansing flood, River of Reconciliation:
All: washing away the selfish self-serving signs of my sinfulness.
Leader: You are like a bottomless well, O Club of lifegiving water:
All: full up to overflowing. Praise be to you, Shaddai.
Copyright © Miriam Therese Winter
Ear Worms:
Ear Worms:
“Jesus gave her water†gospel, upbeat version of old-timey kids tune
“The Well†by Casting Crowns
“All who are thirsty†by Robin Mark
For families: Study guide and activities (former guide), group activity, snack; kid video
For children: See family guide/activities above (another activity), bulletin; craft
For middlers: See family guide/activities above (another activity); bulletin; craft
Coloring: Woman at the well; John 4
For youth: Watch “I am second Scott Hamilton” in which Hamilton talks about how God is with us in the midst of adversity, always. Jesus met the woman at the well at the place of her deepest need. God did not abandon the people of Israel in the desert, even though they grumbled and complained. God never abandons us either. Have seen God at work? Share it.
Excerpted from So It Is website.
If you wish, share your thoughts.
activities
Story video
Each time child helps others (gives “living waterâ€), write the effort on a piece of paper and store in a special chest to review later.
- FOR YOUNGER CHILD:
bulletin games
- FOR OLDER CHILD:
bulletin games
This Sunday is the story of the Samaritan Woman, one of the classic biblical passages for those preparing for baptism at Easter. As the woman was gradually enlightened about Jesus and about her relationship to God, so the candidates are growing in their relationship with God during Lent. They look forward to receiving in baptism the “living water” of God’s Spirit in their lives. Those already baptized are filled with that living water and continue to be enlightened by God’s Spirit.
In the first reading, we move forward in the history of salvation from the call of Abraham and Sarah to the account of Moses and Israel in the Exodus from Egypt. On the occasion we read about today, God provides water for the people in the desert. This is an image of God’s loving care for all people in the spiritual dryness of this world.
The second reading is about the new life we have in God through Christ. Jesus gave up his life for us, in order that we might be put right with God. In his death and resurrection, the estrangement between God and humanity is being repaired. We, in baptism, have been reconciled with God.
As people in the desert thirst for water, so Christians find in their Lenten living the thirst for life that only God can quench. All of us, both the baptized and those preparing for baptism, are, like the Samaritan woman, being enlightened and filled with the grace of the living water that comes from our Savior.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2009 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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