HOMILY OF THE SUNDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT
Exodus 17:3-7, Romans 5:1-2,5-8, John 4:5-42
THEME: JESUS: THE JOY OF A THIRSTY SOUL
QUOTE: “Worldly things may give us temporary pleasures, however, our true and highest fulfilment is found only in God.”
Beloved, in today’s gospel, the Lord Jesus says,
“Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again; but anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty again:the water that I shall give, will turn into a spring inside him, welling up to eternal life.”
In that gospel passage, the Lord Jesus made a messianic claim to the woman at the well when he promised her the living water. Jesus is the joy of a thirsty soul. He satisfies our longings and in him our search ends. Furthermore, in the prophecy of the coming age, the scripture said in the book of Isaiah when the Lord said, “say to the prisoners, ‘come forth’, to those who are in darkness appear, they shall feed along the ways, on all bare heights shall be their pasture. They shall not hunger or thirst.” Isaiah 49:10. It was from the same fountain that the Israelites drank as Moses struck the rock for the people to get water.
The Samaritan woman doubted the words of Jesus as she jokingly made a request for the living water. “Sir,” said the woman “give me some of that water, so that I may never get thirsty and never have to come here again to draw water.” Nevertheless, she made a special request for the water that will last. If we said that human desires are insatiable, we are simply saying that there is a space in every human being which only God can fill. That is what Jesus has come to satisfy though not in material term. The joy of the Lord lifts us above the pressure of the world. It gives us mastery and victory over the world.
According to Williams Barclay, “in each of us, there is this nameless unsatisfied longing, this vague discontent, this something lacking, this frustration.”
St Augustine once said, “our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you, O God.” Worldly things may give us temporary pleasures, however, our true and highest fulfilment is found only in God. Farther away from God, the more frustrated and depressed we become. As we can see nowadays, the world is becoming more ungodly, the need for psychologists or psychiatrists is increasing, although they cannot fix what is only within God’s power to achieve. He is the only one who gives us the joy that keeps our lives balanced.
In this period of lent, let us seek his face more. Let us create enough time to stay with God in prayer and meditation and walk with him by sharing his life with others. Jesus said in the gospel, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me, and to complete his work.” May we get our daily satisfaction from doing the will of God.
Beloved, may we come to Christ when we are burdened, for he is the spring of living water who refreshes all who thirst. Amen.
DO IT ONE MORE TIME
Do it one more time o Lord
Grant this singular request.
Your yes now means much to me.
Your blessings I always seek.
You are the source that never dry.
Fill my cup to the brim.
Man’s blessings are exhaustible.
What you do is perfectly eternal.
CHORUS
Where will I go?
To whom shall I turn?
Though the world has much to give
Your gifts are eternal.
Where will I go?
To whom shall I turn?
Though the world has much to offer
Your will is my peace.
I know you can do it.
And you can do it again and again.
Do not take me thus far,
And leave me halfway.
You know what my life needs Lord.
You know my heart desires.
Satisfy my soul.
I can be yours.
To the very end.
@Fr Oluwafemi Victor Orilua, CSSp, 2022
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