Dayton pastor publishes reflection for third

Fr. Satish Joseph, who serves as a pastor of Immaculate Conception and St. Helen, published his reflection about the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, the gospel reading for Third Sunday of Lent. (Photo by Artem Kovalev from Unsplash)

Fr. Satish Joseph, a pastor at Immaculate Conception and St. Helen parishes in Dayton, wrote a reflection on the readings for the third Sunday of Lent, published in an article on Where Peter Is.

Samaritan Woman

The gospel reading on Sunday, March 12, was based on John 4:5-42, which tells the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.

According to the National Shrine, as told in the Bible, Jesus stopped at a well in Sychar, Samaria, to rest while His disciples went to get food.

A woman from the town came to the well to fetch water, and Jesus asked her for a drink.

She was taken aback as Samaritans were not usually associated with the Jews.

From this, Jesus told her that the water He offers is not physical.

Afterward, they discussed worshiping in Jerusalem versus Mount Gerazim, but Jesus said what matters is worshiping the true God.

When the disciples returned, they were surprised that Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman.

Meanwhile, she went back to town and told everyone about Jesus.

Religion, Love

According to Fr. Joseph, the story of the Samaritan woman at the well reminded him that Christians often come to God with limited understanding and expectations, represented by small jars.

He stated that Christians forget that God is like an ever-flowing well that can quench all their thirsts, just like the Israelites in the desert who also forgot about God's greatness when they got thirsty and only saw their immediate needs.

Fr. Joseph believes that Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman are relevant today.

He stated that they remind Christians that God offers more than just filling their small jars with limited understanding and expectations.

Rather, God opens a spring within them and pours out love into their hearts, as St. Paul also says.

Faith-Encounter

Fr. Joseph also expressed that the account of the Samaritan woman tells of her and others' encounters with faith.

He stated that St. John's account ends with many people from the woman's town also coming to believe in Jesus because of her testimony.

With this, Fr. Joseph emphasized that the Samaritan woman's faith was the catalyst for others to come to believe in Jesus.

Fr. Joseph also pointed out that the story of the Samaritan woman is well-crafted, as it shows how she engaged with Jesus on different levels before coming to faith in Him as the Messiah.

According to Fr. Joseph, she discussed sociological and intellectual topics and even tried to avoid personal details, but once she recognized Christ, everything else became less important.

That said, the story of the Samaritan woman made him reflect on the meaning of faith in Jesus Christ.

He stated that while he acknowledges the importance of intellectual reasoning, theology, and ritual practice in religion, he believes that at the core of faith is the personal encounter with Christ.

And so, Fr. Joseph stated that when faith is solely focused on personal gain or intellectual understanding, it becomes empty.

However, once one meets Christ, faith becomes alive and transforms how one approaches the sacraments, worship, and daily prayer.

Conversation

Fr. Joseph also reflected on the present socially and politically contentious times, where religion is often woven into these contentions, leading to increased intolerance and disrespect.

He found it relevant that in Biblical times, a Jew and a Samaritan could have a respectful face-to-face conversation about society, politics, religion, and faith.

And so, he believes that Jesus' approach of not compelling or threatening the Samaritan woman but offering her possibilities is an example for Christians today.

He stated that the Samaritan woman's testimony to her townsfolk is also commendable, as she does not compel, argue, or condemn, and added that she merely points to the One who "told me everything I have done."

With this, Fr. Joseph hopes that encountering Christ face-to-face through faith will lead to respectful and caring conversations with others.

And so, he encouraged believers to avoid intolerance, disrespect, hate, and violence and instead to point others towards Christ with love and compassion.

He urged people to stand face-to-face with Christ in the Eucharist and allow the mercy and love of God to transform them.