Fifth Sunday of Lent
Over the three weeks, we have heard three stories – that of the Samaritan woman, the man born blind, and the resurrection of Lazarus. These stories are intentionally chosen by the church. They accomplish two goals that John’s gospel is telling its readers – that Jesus is the Christ and that salvation lies in coming to believe in him.
In reality, though, they are not stories of people. They are stories about Jesus, the Christ. The hero of each of these stories is Jesus. It is not that the Samaritan woman, the man born blind, and Lazarus are not important players in the story. They are. But their story must be told in relation to the story of Jesus, the Christ. The Samaritan woman found meaning, the blindman regained his sight, and Lazarus rose from the dead because of Jesus, the Christ. But more importantly they found salvation in him.
Here are my three points for reflection:
Finding Ourselves in Christ
Who am I? Who are you? What is your story? If John had to write your story and mine, how would he write it? For example, the Samaritan woman had a colorful life, but her thirst was only quenched when she met the Messiah. She had come to draw water but that day she left the jar at the well. She found the spring of living water within her. How would John describe our thirst, our jar, and our coming to Christ?
The blind man was blind from birth. He was healed but it was not until he recognized the Messiah that his eyes were truly opened. How would John write about that which blinds us and our coming to truly see the God Jesus reveals?
Mary and Martha had lost their dear brother. They grieved until Jesus came into their life as the resurrection and the life. How would John write about that which grieves us and where we look for comfort, peace, and hope?
The point that John makes is simply this – that unless we have come to believe in Jesus, the Christ, we have not discovered ourselves for who God has made us to be. Unless we have found ourselves in Jesus, the Christ, we are still unfound. Unless we see Jesus as the Christ, we don’t truly see. Unless we find life in Jesus Christ, we don’t truly live.
To Be the Best Versions of Ourselves
There is something that I find very touching in these stories. He met the Samaritan woman at the well in her thirst for water. He met the blind man in his blindness. He came to Mary and Matha’s house in their time of grief. Jesus met each of them where they were. But he did not leave them there. He brought the Samaritan woman to faith. He made the blind man see. He brought hope and life to Mary and Martha.
Jesus meets us where we are. But he does not leave us where we are. He wants to see ourselves as God sees us. He wants to allow him to make us better versions of ourselves. The only way to do this is to find ourselves in him. The only way to do this is let him quench our thirst, open our eyes to the Light, and find our eternity in him. Today, let us meet him where he is even as he meets us where we are.
Salvation Begins Here and Now
In all the three stories, ultimately the Samaritan woman, the blind man, and Mary and Martha came to salvation. We often think that salvation is something that happens when we die. Salvation begins here and now. In eternity we will reach the fulness of salvation. But God did not create us to live a miserable life now and be happy in heaven. God created us to live happily from the day of our birth all the way into eternity. Knowing Christ now, coming to faith in this life, living by his example today helps us to live a full life here on earth.
There is a promise and a danger in this. The promise is that we can live good, holy, and peaceful lives now. The danger is that we can know Christ but still look to quench our thirst elsewhere. The danger is that Christ could be standing in front of us and we still are blind to him. The danger is that we could live lives that could jeopardize our eternity.
Jesus who quenched the thirst of the Samaritan woman, opened the eyes of the blind man, and raised Lazarus to life will be on the altar in a few moments. Let us confess our faith in him and let us worship him. In this is salvation. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph