If your parish has people in the RCIA program - then at one of the Masses today - the First Scrutiny of the Elect should be celebrated and the Gospel should be about the woman at the well (John 4: 5-42) and the Hebrew Scripture should be about Moses and water. Both Scriptures form an image of peoples need for water - to drink - to wash - to bathe. Without water - nothing can survive - man - animal - plants. At our home in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona it is a rule that all homes use irrigation systems to insure that any plants will receive enough water to keep them alive - guarantee them a chance to grow - develop. We recently added some plants to our property and after digging holes in the rocky soil and adding mulch and fertilizer - the next step was adding drip lines - water source. The First Scrutiny today - with the Elect - begins that final purification process - moving them closer to the Easter Vigil - preparation for baptism - reception of the Holy Spirit - receiving the Living Water that leads to eternal life in Christ.
Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that the water she would get would cure her physical thirst - but what she needed was the water - that cures all thirst - Living Water. He was referring to the Holy Spirit - water that would freely flow through her life and lead to eternal life. That water is available today - to all of us - God offers - we accept - reject - His offer. Even those who have already been baptized - may receive again - and again - a fresh out pouring of Living Water - to strengthen - to fortify. No one has drunk of the Living Water so much that they will not benefit from a new outpouring. God waits - Jesus offers - a drink.
Deacon Dale
Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that the water she would get would cure her physical thirst - but what she needed was the water - that cures all thirst - Living Water. He was referring to the Holy Spirit - water that would freely flow through her life and lead to eternal life. That water is available today - to all of us - God offers - we accept - reject - His offer. Even those who have already been baptized - may receive again - and again - a fresh out pouring of Living Water - to strengthen - to fortify. No one has drunk of the Living Water so much that they will not benefit from a new outpouring. God waits - Jesus offers - a drink.
Deacon Dale
