By Fr. Glenn Jones:
Well, the war with Iran today (3/8/26) at least seems to be about over. That regime doesn’t have much else left to fight with, and unless something unforeseen occurs, it’ll likely be done soon. And then the uncertain aftermath of such things.
“Why don’t they surrender?!!”, we ask, and hawks might add: “A people should know when they’re conquered.” But as Maximus replied to that statement in the movie “Gladiator” when the legions were facing a proud yet overmatched foe: “Would you? Would I?” Yet it’s tragic that soldiers continue to be sent to die in futility with no realistic hope of victory.
War, terrorism, etc., is such a “bad business”, as the saying goes … with all the unnecessary deaths, the unnecessary damage … whomever is to blame. Still, one cannot expect rationality from the irrational. The Islamic regime of Iran has for decades trumpeted their desire to work for the destruction of Israel (and the U.S.) and was developing nuclear weapons likely for that very purpose. Should the world just hope it doesn’t happen, especially when that regime slaughters even its own people in obvious disregard for human life. Imagine if Mexico said the same about obliterating Arizona and New Mexico, whose combined population is about that of Israel; the U.S. would certainly not wring its hands just hoping it wouldn’t happen.
If only we could find a mutual focal point for peace! If only we could find one who could bring us all together!!
Fortunately, there is one. But unfortunately, many refuse to see Him. None other than Jesus Himself.
I was thinking of this while reading the Gospel for the Sunday Mass for March 8—the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. Jesus and His apostles were journeying through Samaria, a region in central Israel. The Jews and the Samaritans despised each other, the Jews seeing the Samaritans as having polluted themselves by intermarriage with foreigners and corrupting their formerly Jewish faith. Samaritans also worshiped at Mt. Gerizim and not at the temple in Jerusalem.
In Jesus’ time a Samaritan woman would have been seen by Jews as one of the lowest of the low … the one in the account even more so since she may have been shunned by even her own people, evidenced by her fetching water in the heat of the day. Yet Jesus intentionally crosses major social, ethnic, and gender boundaries of the first century by speaking to, and revealing Himself as Messiah to, this Samaritan woman so as to show that He is not only for the Jews, but for everyone. He uses water in the story as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit, grace and the gift of eternal life, contrasting it with the temporary nature of physical water, which soothes thirst in the body. It is the Holy Spirit and God’s grace which provides the spring welling up within us to soothe the thirst of the soul … soothe the longings of the human heart for real fulfillment and peace.
We, in a way, waste our time endlessly pursuing earthly comforts and entertainments that cannot satisfy … surrounding ourselves with material things, enjoying other ephemeral delights of the senses. Each acquisition gives a little thrill, each new distraction or experience a bit of pleasure. Yet those fade quickly, having given just temporary pleasure which is soon forgotten. Nonetheless, like the addict, we continually seek a new “fix”.
Such things and other entertainments simply distract us from remembrance of our internal emptiness, our alone-ness … the inexplicable longing for “something else” … something more complete. In the end, this is our longing for an absolute and eternal love to fill our souls. Made in the image of God, we can be truly content with nothing else, as St. Augustine recognized when he addresses God in prayer in his “Confessions”: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.” He saw that the more we follow the way of God, fortified with the grace He provides so freely, the closer we come to that true fulfillment and satisfaction of the soul’s longing. That is the “living water” of which Jesus speaks.
This Gospel account also focuses on true worship, Jesus shifting the focus of worship from geographic locations (like Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem) to the internal state of the person: worshiping the Father “in spirit and in truth”. True devotion is in our heart…in our soul. Certainly, we worship communally as demonstrated by Christ Himself at the Last Supper, but worship can be, and should be, everywhere and all the time … remembering God even in the smallest things, and even in the most distracting times.
God provides us with the inspired scriptures not just as historical account, but to teach. John the Evangelist records so much of this “woman at the well” story to show various aspects of discipleship, one of which is providing testimony to faith. As the Samaritan woman goes and announces Jesus to her community, so we announce our faith in Jesus through our words and actions, sharing our own experience. What greater way to love God and neighbor than to lead others to Him and to that “living water” that He provides?
Jesus is revealing to the Samaritan woman: “If you will only recognize me, I will give you something far surpassing the material realm that does not satisfy—the true and everlasting refreshment of grace.” So, she leaves behind her jar and her worldliness in her enthusiasm of finding the source of truth and eternal life as the apostles had left behind their boats before her.
The Samaritan woman is everyman … everywoman … her realization of Christ, the path of every true disciple: recognition, repentance, conversion, evangelization. Bringing peace even among enemies. Today and every day Jesus is at the well of our hearts asking for a drink, as He would say upon the cross: “I thirst!” Not for water, but for our faith … our souls.
Will we reciprocate love for love? He, in turn, gives His faithful the living water for which they thirst: God’s grace, His strength … and His forgiveness … if only we turn to Him.
As the hymn goes:
Longing for light, we wait in darkness
Longing for truth, we turn to You
Make us Your own, Your holy people
Light for the world to see
Christ, be our light
Shine in our hearts
Shine through the darkness
Christ, be our light
Shine in Your church gathered today
Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.