Third Sunday in Lent Year A 12th March 2023
Lectionary readings: Exodus 17 v1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5 v1-11; John 4 v5-42.
Hunger and thirst.
All human beings need food and water in order to survive. Our readings today speak about hunger and thirst in two senses, physical and spiritual.
The people of God complained to Moses about a lack of drinking water in the desert and expected him to do something about it! Moses turned to God for help. God responded by providing not only a miraculous source of water but also the spiritual reassurance that he was journeying with them.
God said, “When you get to the rock at Mount Sinai, I will be with you. Strike the rock with the stick and water will pour out for the people to drink.” (Exodus 17 v6).
The Psalmist sings God’s praises and recalls God’s faithfulness towards his people in their times of need for safety, food and water. He reminds them that “The Lord is our God, and we are his people, the sheep he takes care of in his own pasture.” (Psalm 95 v7).
The apostle Paul reminds his readers about what God has done for them via the life death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus has made it possible for us to be reconciled with God by our faith in him. Paul writes, “By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of the Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God.” (Romans 5 v1).
Paul argues that our spiritual needs have been met by God’s gift to us of his Holy Spirit. “God has given us the Holy Spirit who fills our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5 v5b).
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus experiences hunger and thirst, but prioritises his mission before his physical needs. Jesus offers the woman at the well, ‘living water’ (the blessing of the Holy Spirit) to meet her (unconscious) spiritual thirst.
When the disciples return from their shopping trip they urge Jesus to eat something, as they suspect that he is as hungry as they are themselves. “Teacher, please eat something”, Jesus replies, “My food is to do what God wants! He is the one who sent me and I must finish the work that he gave me to do.” (John 4 v31b, 34).
I think Jesus is being unfair to his disciples, they, like us, know that our bodies need food if we are to function at our best. But Jesus is making the point that his mission overrides such mundane human concerns. Jesus trusts God to provide him with whatever he needs to fulfil his mission on earth.
Hymn writer Andrew Pratt echoes Paul’s words about our need for God’s grace.
(Singing the Faith 435 v1,3,4).
We come to you with no pretence, yet nourished by your grace.
We come as people needing love within this time and place.
We need your spirit to be strong, your risking, leaping faith,
that brings the love of God to bear in every aching space.
Then from this point, restored, renewed, we pledge to take your way;
to live responding to your call with each succeeding day.
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.