Prepare a place for Jesus to stay.

For our first reflection, we read about how Jesus entered Jerusalem as King and cleansed the temple. Sometimes this image of being “cleansed” can be unsettling. If you were raised Catholic, you may have experienced a sense of guilt or inadequacy or other negative emotions in reaction to the reminder that we are sinful people. There is something to that “big Catholic guilt.” Sometimes this image of “cleansing” does not help us realize that God is a loving Father. We may forget that we don’t have to rely solely on our own efforts to change - that the desire for change, and the transformation after that, are God’s work - He comes to us, and will transform us if we just let Him.

Today we will look at Jesus’ compassionate encounter with the Samaritan woman - also called the “woman at the well” – which led to Jesus’ visit with her whole village.

The story of the Samaritan woman is found in the gospel of John (4:4-42). Jesus and disciples were returning from Judea to Galillee and decided to take an apparent shortcut through Samaria. Most Jews at that time would have gone around Samaria. When they arrived in Samaria, while the disciples went to get food, Jesus went to Jacob’s well, at about noon, and sat to rest. “A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’” Jn 4:7. I can't help but wonder that Jesus took that shortcut just to meet her there.

It is commonly said, by many commentators on this Gospel passage, that the image of the woman coming to draw water from the well represents all the things in her life that she did to seek happiness, but left her unsatisfied. We can, similarly, reflect on all those things we do as represented by that water jar. With that in mind, consider Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman: “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jn 4:13-14.  The woman replies to Jesus: “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jn 4:15.

What follows next in the Gospel is the part of the conversation where Jesus asks the woman about her husband, and then describes her history of many husbands to reveal how deeply he knows her. He knew her, sought her out, and offered himself to her.  In response, the “woman said to him, ‘I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is speaking with you.’” Jn 4:25-26.

At this point, we can see that the Samaritan woman believes. She has received the living water she asked for – faith – a deep trust that Jesus is who he says. So, the woman “left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, ‘Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?’ They went out of the town and came to him.” Jn 4:28-30 (emphasis added). “When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.” Jn 4:40-42 (emphasis added).

Jesus will meet us wherever we bring our water jar. He may even plan his trip to make sure he encounters us there. Where is this place for you?

What will we do when we meet Jesus there? How will we respond to Jesus when he asks us for a drink? Will we be surprised that Jesus is willing to meet us and talk to us there? Imagine Jesus being right there with you at that place and, out of love, telling you everything you ever have done.

Might that encounter help us to realize that Jesus is the Messiah? Will we be willing to leave behind our water jar and ask Jesus to give us his living water instead? Will we invite him to stay with us?

What happens when we invite Jesus in to stay with us? The Samaritans discovered that, while they initially believed because of the woman’s word, they came to true belief because they encountered Jesus who stayed with them.

This Advent, what if you bring your water jar to your usual place and find Jesus there waiting for you? What if you ask him for faith, leave your water jar behind, and invite him to stay with you, in your heart, mind, body, and soul, for just a little while.

Perhaps, by allowing Jesus to stay with you, you too will come to know that Jesus is truly the savior of the world.