I can’t go another week without pointing you toward the newly formed and fantastic blog, Speaking of Scriptures. Actually, I’m pretty sure I mentioned them once before, but this week’s reflection on this Sunday’s Gospel reading is tremendous and MUST BE READ!
Here is just an excpert:
Why this apparent digression? Now that her request has provided an opening, Jesus probes this woman’s heart, uncovering the place where she is wounded. Only the truly thirsty, who are willing to acknowledge what is parched and lifeless within them, are able to drink the living water. This woman’s brokenness, like that of so many others, is in the area of love. In fact, her life is a history of broken relationships.
Her reply, “I have no husband,” is somewhat evasive, but Jesus brings to light her true moral state.
“You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly.”
Although this revelation is painful, the woman recognizes Jesus’ total lack of condemnation (cf. 4:39). He exposes sin not for the sake of condemnation but forgiveness and freedom.
At this point it is becoming clear that the dialogue is not merely personal. The woman’s life story, in fact, embodies the history of the people of Israel. According to 2 Kings, when the Assyrians invaded the Kingdom of Israel they planted precisely five foreign nations there, each with its god (2 Kg 17:24-31; cf. Josephus, Antiquities, 9.288).
You must read the rest of it here –>
Learning 2B Joseph 