“To show that he was not different from us, he undertook hard work, he went hungry and thirsty, he took rest and sleep, he did not shirk suffering, he revealed the Resurrection.”
READ: JOHN 4:5–26
He came to the Samaritan town called Sychar, near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well is there and Jesus, tired by the journey, sat straight down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “What? You are a Jew and you ask me, a Samaritan, for a drink?” — Jews, in fact, do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus replied: “If you only knew what God is offering and who it is that is saying to you: Give me a drink, you would have been the one to ask, and he would have given you living water.” “You have no bucket, sir,” she answered, “and the well is deep: how could you get this living water? Are you a greater man than our father Jacob who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his sons and his cattle?” Jesus replied: “Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again; but anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will turn into a spring inside him, welling up to eternal life.”
“Sir,” said the woman, “give me some of that water, so that I may never get thirsty and never have to come here again to draw water.” “Go and call your husband,” said Jesus to her, “and come back here.” The woman answered, “I have no husband.” He said to her, “You are right to say, ‘I have no husband’; for although you have had five, the one you have now is not your husband. You spoke the truth there.” “I see you are a prophet, sir,” said the woman. “Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, while you say that Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said: “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know: for salvation comes from the Jews. But the hour will come — in fact it is here already — when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: that is the kind of worshipper the Father wants. God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah — that is, Christ — is coming; and when he comes he will tell us everything.” “I who am speaking to you,” said Jesus, “I am he.”
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
The Samaritan woman: I knew something was different about that man as soon as I came up to the well. He looked at me in a way that men didn’t usually look at me. I met His eyes for just a second, and then I looked away. But I wanted to look again. I had seen in His glance something that I had only dreamed about before: He knew me completely — He knew exactly what kind of person I was. Yet it didn’t bother Him; in fact, it was as if He was glad to see me — not because He wanted anything from me but because He seemed to want something for me, as if He were pure kindness. So when I looked away — because that was the proper thing to do— I was just dying to look at Him again, to see that kindness in His eyes, to drink it in.
But then I thought, no, it’s only my imagination. And then He spoke to me. He asked me for a drink. And that was the beginning of a conversation that changed my life. I didn’t understand everything He told me, but I understood that He knew me — He knew me through and through, and He still cared about me; He was interested in me. To Him, I was important, not just because I could give Him something but just . . . well, just because. In His eyes, I mattered. Even then I knew that what He said about being the Messiah was true. How else could I explain the change that was already happening in my heart? It was as if a door had opened in my life where before there had been only a thick, dark, high wall protecting my broken heart. He freed me. I had to tell the others in the town. I knew He was the Savior, and I just had to tell everyone. I knew that as soon as they met Him they, too, would realize it. And they did! Before that day, I was just surviving; after that encounter with His words, His glance, His presence — from then on, I began to live.
RESPOND
Jesus, tell me everything. Tell me about myself and the meaning of my life; tell me about Your love and Your wisdom and Your plan for my life. Lord, give me Your living water — how thirsty I am! I have tasted Your gifts; I know at least a little bit about what You are offering. I want to know more. I want to live closer to You. I want to lead others to Your heart, just as you led me. I believe in You, Lord, and in Your eagerness to save souls who are stuck in sin and darkness. And I believe that You can save them, just as you turned this woman’s life around — just as you have turned my life around. Thank You for guiding me. Thank You for not giving up on me. Thank You for giving me a mission in life.
REST
What does it mean, Lord, to worship in “spirit and truth”? You want it; You came to make it possible. To worship is to acknowledge Your greatness, majesty, and goodness. You want me to do so not only in external ceremonies but in my heart, in my attitudes, in my choices. You want me to live as You would have me live, Lord, trusting in You, seeking Your will always. Teach me to do so, because this is what You desire.
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
About the Author
Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
