Weekly Gospel Reflection

We live in a world where we are highly focused on the next big thing. Instagram and social media often throws us with plenty of ideas, even before we think of them ourselves. The next big holiday we could go on, the next fitness craze or some new recipe to try (or as in my case… burn to a crisp!) 

Yet through this never ending marathon, we miss the underlying question about our quest – what are we really looking for? We desire a rest, fulfilment, and joy that is never truly found with any one item, place or project. 

In this week’s Gospel, the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well speak to an important home truth – that we are often blind to what we truly need.

The passage starts in the Judean country side with his disciples where Jesus had to pass through Samaria to get to Judea. This journey in itself was very unusual for Jews as they would have been disliked in this part of Israel. Further, the “six hour” mentioned would have been at midday- the hottest part of the day. Women would usually gather the water at the start of the day or late evening. Both the presence of Jesus and the women at the well at this time would have been an unlikely setting. 

In spite of the unlikeness of the encounter, Jesus asks the women to give him a drink from the well. There he reveals to her three things: that Jesus is the living water that she needs, he is the prophet and gives this water freely . Jesus is the water shared that truly satisfies us. 

For us at St John Vianney’s, this week’s Gospel calls for us to pause when we look at the next big thing and consider – what are we truly wanting?  

Father, may we come to you to receive the living water. 

Loving God, just as we have poured water into the empty bowl, please fill all of us with your loving spirit. Help us to become fountains of your living water and to show your love and kindness to others in the midst of a thirsty world. We pray this prayer in the name of God, who is the 'living water'. 

St John Vianney, 

Pray for us 

By Jonathan Rooney REL  with excerpts from biblestudytools.com