Third Sunday of Lent [A]


THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT [A]


God loves you, even if you are not practicing virtue. That’s part of what you will find if you spend time in Romans chapter five. God proves his love by sending Jesus into our world. Jesus takes his place among us, even dies for us, despite the fact we have given ourselves over to sin (5:8). It would have been understandable if God had chosen to hold off. He could have taken a “wait and see” approach: I’ll send my Son to them, once they show some interest in reforming their lives. But Paul’s point is that Jesus performs his act of redemption, while we are still deeply embedded within the quagmire of sin. With God, it’s all about love. What will we hear later on in the New Testament? Does it say that God is “understandable?”  Or rather, does it say that God “is love?”  


Are we easy to love? No, we make it enormously difficult. This was true during the Old Testament period, and it’s been true ever since. For example, listen to the Israelites in Exodus chapter 17. We might expect a spirit of gratitude. Instead, they resort to whining and complaining. Now would be the time for God to withhold his love. And yet, he chooses to move forward. The plan of salvation is not being put on hold. On the contrary, as far as the Lord is concerned, it’s full speed ahead. It remains full speed ahead in this account from the Gospel of John chapter four. The Samaritan Woman ranks as an outsider. She has obviously made some questionable choices through the course of her life. Nevertheless, Jesus initiates a dialogue with her. 


He engages her. And, to her credit, she responds. The flow shifts back and forth. And in the end, she is a changed person. By hanging in there, by persisting, her soul becomes accessible. Paul would put it this way: the love of God is being poured directly into her heart (Romans 5:5). God’s love is constant; it emanates continually. The only question is whether we will provide an opening, so that this love can be subsequently received (?). Perhaps we will be able to answer in the affirmative, by reflecting upon the following image. 


Imagine a weathervane that turns into a conversation piece. The farmer responsible for the weathervane has attached his favorite Bible verse: God is love (1st John 4:16). The inclusion of the scripture quotation has sparked some measure of debate. One critical voice can be heard, arguing that a weathervane changes with the wind. Meanwhile, the love of God remains constant. Therefore, God’s love cannot be compared to a weathervane. Go ahead and display the verse, but display it somewhere else. On the other hand, we also hear a voice speaking in support. The words are posted above, at the upper portion of the weathervane. This drives home the principle that God’s love prevails, no matter which way the wind might be blowing. God’s love proves itself to be constant, even if the wind itself is not being revealed as constant. 


What we need to consider is the nature of our response. Are we sure that this love is formally being received? Poured out, yes; but is it being received? If there is room for doubt, then perhaps the Samaritan Woman is somebody who can show us the way. Being engaged with the Lord is what really matters. In the process of being engaged, your soul becomes accessible. Or to use St. Paul’s terminology, the poured out love is being actually received—not just received; it’s being happily received. 

 

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