Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Today’s gospel is the magnificent and moving account of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. What begins as a seemingly chance encounter while drawing water, becomes for the woman the revelation of the God-man: “I know there is a Messiah coming,” the woman says, and Christ responds: “I who speak to you am he.” She receives a gift: “the water I give shall become a fountain within…welling up to eternal life.” Will we be like this simple woman, whose simplicity enables her to encounter, without prejudice, the revelation of Almighty God? Will each one of us accept God as He lovingly and wisely reveals Himself, or will we, tragically, reject Him because He does not appear according to our preconceived notions?
God’s desire to embrace us draws near in Christ, and we enjoy the nearness of God in prayer.
‘If you knew the gift of God!’ (Jn 4:10) The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God’s desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him.” (CCC 2560)
Accept and practice daily the gift of prayer. Our baptism joins us to the perfect prayer and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The well of prayer is as deep as God, and our thirst is quenched fully only in Him. The waters of baptism “welling up to eternal life” are the key to the life of prayer. Pray. “Draw water joyfully at the springs of salvation.”