Today, the 3rd Sunday of Lent, we hear the astonishing encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman (John 4:5-42). After overcoming her total shock that Jew would speak with a Samaritan, let along a Samaritan woman, she slowly comes to understand who Jesus really is and what He offers her.
Gospel details substantiate why Jesus is thirsty: he is tired from traveling and the hottest time of the day (v. 6).
Of course, there is much more than Jesus’ understandable physical thirst. He thirsts for the salvation of the Samaritan woman. As Saint Augustine explains, “Although Jesus asked for a drink, His real thirst was for this woman’s faith.”
Later in John’s Gospel, we again will hear Jesus speak about His being very thirsty. Nailed to the Cross, Jesus exclaims, “I thirst” (John 19:28). Yes, he is physically parched and also His words express much deeper meaning. Jesus is thirsty for our salvation through our growing in faith and love of Him.
The Creed boldly asserts Jesus’ desire for us is an unimaginable thirst, having done everything, “…for us and for our salvation.”
Love Alone thirsts for us. Our blessed Lord Jesus wants to lavish upon us divine grace – power – so that our love of Him will be grow mightily in return.
