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Jesus, the Spring of Living Water — Silvio José Báez, ocd

Dear brothers and sisters,

During the coming Sundays of Lent, we will hear three beautiful passages from the Gospel of John. Since ancient times, the Church has used these texts as a catechesis for those preparing to receive baptism at Easter—and as a help for all of us who are already baptized to renew our baptismal faith.

They are the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman, which reveals him as the source of living water; the healing of the man born blind, which shows him as the light that heals our blindness; and the raising of Lazarus, which presents him as the life that conquers death.

So the three great Paschal symbols that will accompany us in the liturgy beginning today are water, light, and life.

Today, we heard the story of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman. Jesus arrives at a small village in Samaria. It’s midday. He’s tired from the journey and thirsty, so he sits down beside a well.

Just then, a Samaritan woman comes to draw water. She’s anonymous. Her life is fragile and complicated. She belongs to a people whose religious practices were far from the Lord and mixed with other beliefs.

This woman represents the people of Samaria—but also all humanity, each one of us. She’s like a bride who has gone after other loves, yet whom God now wants to win back and draw again with his love.

Jesus says to her, “Give me a drink” (Jn 4:7).

She’s surprised that a Jewish man would ask her for water, since Jews and Samaritans didn’t associate with one another. But in those simple words—“Give me a drink”—something very profound is revealed. God is thirsty. Not thirsty for water, but thirsty to be welcomed and loved.

God thirsts for you and for me. He thirsts for humanity.

That’s why Jesus tells 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” (Jn 4:10).

Notice that Jesus doesn’t argue with the woman. He doesn’t scold her or accuse her. Instead, he speaks to her about a gift—the “gift of God.”

A gift is something freely given. It isn’t earned or deserved.

That woman knows only effort and fatigue. Every day she has to come to the well and draw water. But Jesus offers her a different kind of water—one that doesn’t depend on human effort or on our own merits and virtues.

Jesus explains: “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” (Jn 4:13–14).

The woman becomes excited and asks for that water. And who wouldn’t? Who wouldn’t want a gift that could change life forever?

So many times we drink from different wells—success, possessions, pleasure, recognition—yet we remain thirsty. Jesus offers us something different: living water that springs up from within and fills our whole life.

In the Jewish tradition, the well symbolized the law of Moses with its commandments and norms. It was like water that nourished good works. In that sense, the well represented a religion centered on external observance of the law.

Jesus offers something deeper. He doesn’t speak about rituals or rules to fulfill. He speaks about an interior spring—a life within us that makes us free, joyful, and full.

The water Jesus offers is the love of God. It’s like a spring that flows endlessly within us, giving life, healing wounds, and helping life grow and mature. It’s a source that satisfies our deepest thirst for love and meaning. And it doesn’t stay closed within us—it overflows into the lives of others.

Even if our jar is cracked and our thirst isn’t completely satisfied yet, we can still become a source of living water for others—a fresh cup of water, or even just a drop of the life-giving love of God.

The living water of the Spirit also responds to the thirst of peoples for justice and peace. Oppressive regimes, unjust social systems, and corrupt forms of power can’t be overcome by human effort alone.

True social transformation begins with the transformation of the human heart. Without men and women who are free, converted, and purified from idols—people who are honest, capable of fraternity, and committed to justice—efforts to change society often end up repeating new forms of oppression.

It isn’t enough to change structures. God must renew our hearts.

The spring of living water is Jesus himself. He is God’s answer to our thirst. From the day of our baptism, his word and his Spirit have been alive within us, giving us a life that is strong, luminous, and free.

But over time, that spring can become buried. Sometimes it seems as if it has disappeared. The heavy stones of suffering, the fine sand of our fears, and the foul debris of our sins can slowly cover over the living water within us.

Lent is the time to clear away those obstacles—to free the heart so the water of Christ can flow again.

Recently, speaking to Spanish seminarians, Pope Leo used a striking image. He said:

“It is said that trees ‘die standing’: they remain upright, they retain their appearance, but inside they are already dry… Spiritual life does not bear fruit because of what is visible, but because of what is deeply rooted in God. When that root is neglected, everything ends up drying up inside, until, silently, it ends up ‘dying standing upright.’”

Something like that can happen to us, too. We can be very busy. We move from one activity to another. We carry out projects, we fulfill responsibilities—we even come to church.

But inside we may feel empty, restless, or sad—because we’ve lost living contact with the Lord.

When we neglect our interior life, when the living water of God’s love stops flowing within us, everything slowly dries up.

That’s why today’s Gospel invites us to return to the heart.

Let’s return to prayer.
Let’s listen again to the Word of God.
Let’s rediscover the grace of the sacraments.

Let’s return to the heart.

At one point, the Samaritan woman asks Jesus: “Where should we worship God? On this mountain, or in Jerusalem?”

Jesus’ answer is surprising. Worship is not limited to a place—not to a mountain or a temple. The true place of encounter with God is within.

You are the temple where God lives. In your heart, he has placed a spring of water that never stops flowing.

Let’s allow Jesus to quench our thirst with the living water of his love. Let’s not settle for “dying standing”—looking alive on the outside, but dry within.

Silvio José Báez, o.c.d.

Auxiliary Bishop of Managua
Homily for the Third Sunday in Lent, 8 March 2026

Translation from the Spanish text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

The story of the Samaritan woman at the well shows how Jesus meets people with honesty and compassion. Though she is an outsider, He offers her living water and speaks truth into her life. 🌿💧

This Gospel invites us to reflect on our own thirst for meaning and peace. Lent is a time to break down barriers, seek what truly lasts, and share faith with others. When we meet Jesus with open hearts, He changes us. ✝️

https://young-catholics.com/2508/reflection-samaritan-woman-at-the-well/

#Lent #LivingWater #CatholicLife

The 3rd Sunday of Lent Year A reminds us that God is near when we feel empty or unsure. In the desert, God gives water to His people. At the well, Jesus offers living water that brings new life. 🌿💧

The Samaritan woman is changed by her encounter with Christ. Lent invites us to reflect on our own thirst and turn to Jesus, who alone satisfies our deepest needs with mercy and hope. ✝️

https://young-catholics.com/2445/3rd-sunday-of-lent-year-a/

#Lent #LivingWater #CatholicLife

Living Water and Lasting Faith

Thru the Bible in a Year

Scripture Reading: John 4–5

As we move further into the Gospel of John, the pace of Jesus’ ministry begins to unfold in ways that reveal both His humanity and His divinity. Today’s reading brings us through His ministry in Samaria, Galilee, and Judea—each location revealing a different layer of His mission and message. The stories are connected not only by geography but by grace. Whether at a well, in a household, or near the pool of Bethesda, Jesus meets people right where they are. Each encounter draws us closer to understanding His purpose: to offer living water to thirsty souls, to heal the broken in body and spirit, and to reveal Himself as the Son of God who alone gives life.

The Ministry in Samaria: Meeting at the Well

It all begins with a simple request. Jesus, weary from His journey, sits beside a well in Samaria and asks a woman for a drink (John 4:1–26). The scene feels ordinary, but heaven often hides its greatest works in ordinary places. The conversation that follows covers three topics—water, wickedness, and worship—and each draws the woman closer to truth.

Jesus begins with water. The woman came seeking physical refreshment, but Jesus spoke of a water that would quench a deeper thirst—the living water of eternal life. When He revealed her wickedness, exposing the truth about her relationships, it was not to shame her but to set her free. He then led her into a discussion about worship, explaining that true worship is not about the location of the temple but the posture of the heart: “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The woman’s transformation is immediate. Having met the Messiah, she leaves her water jar behind and runs into the village proclaiming, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did!” Her priorities shifted in a moment. The well that once represented her daily need now stood as a reminder of spiritual renewal. She became the first evangelist in Samaria, proof that grace turns sinners into messengers.

Her witness influenced a multitude. Many Samaritans believed in Jesus because of her testimony, and when they heard Him for themselves, they declared, “We know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” It’s remarkable how one conversation can change a community. The same is true today. When our hearts are transformed by grace, our story becomes an invitation for others to meet Christ.

Miracles of Healing: Faith That Walks

After His time in Samaria, Jesus returns to Galilee, where He performs two miracles that teach us about faith and healing (John 4:46–5:16). The first involves a nobleman whose son is dying. The man’s plea is urgent—he travels miles to reach Jesus, hoping for a miracle. But before granting his request, Jesus gently rebukes him, saying, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” The nobleman’s faith must rise above sight. Jesus tells him simply, “Go; your son lives.”

The man obeys. He turns back home without physical proof, carrying only the promise of Jesus’ word. On his way, his servants meet him and confirm that the boy recovered at the exact hour Jesus spoke. The result is not only healing, but household faith—the entire family believes. It’s a reminder that genuine faith is not built on what we can see, but on whom we can trust.

The second miracle occurs in Jerusalem near the pool of Bethesda, where a man had been crippled for thirty-eight years. When Jesus asks, “Do you want to be made well?” the man explains his hopelessness—no one is there to help him into the pool. But the Savior who walks by doesn’t need the water to heal; His word is enough. Jesus says, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk.” And immediately the man is healed.

Yet this miracle stirs controversy because it takes place on the Sabbath. The religious leaders, blind to the mercy in front of them, accuse Jesus of breaking the law. But in reality, Jesus is fulfilling it—bringing rest and restoration to a broken life. The healed man is warned, “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” His physical healing becomes a metaphor for the greater healing of the soul.

Both miracles show us that faith requires response. The nobleman obeyed and believed before he saw. The crippled man rose up and walked because he trusted the voice of Jesus. Our faith grows the same way—through steps of obedience in response to God’s word, often before we see the results.

Message for the Critics: The Authority of Christ

John 5:17–47 shifts the focus from the miracles to the message. After healing the man on the Sabbath, Jesus faces growing hostility from the religious leaders. They accuse Him not only of breaking the Sabbath law, but of blasphemy because He calls God His Father. Their anger reveals how tightly human tradition can grip the heart, blinding it to divine truth.

At this moment, Jesus declares His true identity: “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.” He claims equality with God, not as a rival deity but as the obedient Son who shares the Father’s mission. The response is fury—they seek to kill Him. Yet even in confrontation, Jesus offers revelation. He speaks of His role as the giver of life, the judge of all humanity, and the One through whom the Father’s purposes are made visible.

Jesus then presents what might be called His divine credentials: five witnesses who confirm His claims. He cites Himself, John the Baptist, His works, the Father, and the Scriptures. Each one testifies that He is who He says He is—the Christ, the Son of God. It’s as though Jesus is placing the evidence on the table, inviting His critics to see what’s right in front of them.

It’s worth noting that the same Scriptures they studied so diligently were pointing to Him all along. Yet their hearts, hardened by pride, could not see. This passage reminds us that biblical knowledge without spiritual openness can lead to blindness rather than insight. The goal of Scripture is always to draw us to Christ, not to inflate our sense of religious correctness.

Lessons for the Journey

As I read these chapters, I see three threads weaving through the tapestry of Jesus’ ministry—conversation, compassion, and confrontation. In Samaria, He engages a woman in conversation that transforms her life. In Galilee and Jerusalem, He demonstrates compassion that heals both the body and the heart. And with the Pharisees, He faces confrontation that ultimately leads to the cross.

Each of these moments teaches us something essential about walking with Jesus. We meet Him in conversation when we bring our honest questions and thirsts before Him. We experience His compassion when we allow His Word to restore what’s broken. And we learn from His confrontation that truth and grace are inseparable—He loves us too much to leave us in error.

Faith, then, is not static. It begins at the well of curiosity, grows in the obedience of healing, and matures in the crucible of challenge. The Samaritan woman, the nobleman, and the crippled man each experienced a progression of faith that mirrors our own. God meets us where we are but never leaves us there.

A Heartfelt Blessing

May today’s reading remind you that Jesus still meets people at their wells, their doorsteps, and their pools of waiting.
May you trust His word even when you cannot yet see its results.
And may the Scriptures you read today not only inform your mind but transform your heart.

As we journey Thru the Bible in a Year, remember—God’s Word will not return void. It accomplishes what He desires and prospers where He sends it. Keep reading, keep trusting, and keep allowing His Word to shape the story of your life.

For a related reflection on the transforming power of faith and obedience, visit “What It Means to Have Living Water” on Crosswalk.com

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FOUL WATER SPREADING ALERT!!!
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