Jesus is recorded a few verses before (cf. 7:37-39) today’s Gospel reading as speaking about quenching the thirst of those gathered around to listen to him. The  thirst he is talking about fulfilling is a spiritual thirst, what we all desire to be refreshed by and to experience, that which we have been created to receive; the thirst to belong, to be in communion, to be loved and to love in return. Jesus speaks of coming to those who thirst to be refreshed with: “Rivers of living water [that] will flow from within” (Jn 7:38).  Jesus spoke of the day when he would send the Holy Spirit to well up from within the soul of each who would follow him. All who participate in the life of Jesus would come to experience too the love between God the Father and God the Son, who is God the Holy Spirit.

Some who heard Jesus speaking in this way were deeply moved, believing him to be a Prophet, others believing he was indeed the Messiah. Yet, there were those who could not see past their own prejudice. They heard his teaching, may have even been moved as well but said, “The Messiah will not come from Galilee, will he” (Jn 7:41)? Remember Nathaniel’s first reaction when Philip had told him that they had found the Messiah? Nathaniel asked if anything good could come out of Nazareth (cf. Jn 43-47). As I mentioned in prior reflections, Jesus was also rejected because he was looked down upon because of his trade as a tekton, carpenter.

Why the region of Galilee, the town of Nazareth itself, would be disparaged is a matter of speculation. The fact was that there were those, unlike Nathaniel, that could not see past their initial prejudices. Even though Jesus spoke and taught with authority, though as the Temple guards who were sent to arrest him said, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man” (Jn 7:46), and even when Nicodemus spoke out to the other Pharisees rationally, requesting they hear Jesus out and give him the opportunity to make his case, there were those in authority and among the people who could or would not hear Jesus, who were unwilling to change and so closed themselves off to the invitation to receive the gift of the love of God.

Lent is about change. Jesus’ primary message from the beginning of his ministry was that: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mk 1:15). To be able to receive the living water, the Holy Spirit welling up within us, that Jesus has promised, we must repent, change our hearts and minds. We must come to terms with those prejudicial attitudes and postures that are present and ingrained within us, those limitations of thought that prevent us from seeing as God sees, and be humble enough to identify our sinful attitudes, actions, grudges, habits that bind us and let them go. We can dig in our heals like those in today’s Gospel and refuse to give Jesus the time of day or we can follow the lead of Nicodemus and hear him out.

Create some time in your day to reread this Gospel a few times, place yourself in the scene. As he is teaching, do you find that you are among those who are moved by his words, see the promise and possibilities of inviting the Holy Spirit into your life, or are you finding that you question Jesus, you have doubts, you limit him and other people to enter your life because of prejudicial boundaries you have established? Allow Jesus to come to you one on one, after his group presentation, share any doubts you may have with him, give him the opportunity to be heard and ask him what he is doing in your life, what plans he has for you. Share with him also your limitations, weakness, sin, and broken places that are in need of healing.

Repent and believe in the Gospel that you may have access to the living water that Jesus seeks to provided us, the love shared between him and his Father, who is God the Holy Spirit. As we turn away from our selfish postures, our defensive stances, take a breath instead of give free reign to our reactive impulses, we are better able to experience being loved by God. Being willing to receive this living water of God’s love welling up within us, being nourished by it, we can love and be loved by others in return, even those we may have never thought possible.

Photo: Crucifix in the small chapel at Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Link for the Mass readings for Saturday, March 17, 2018:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031718.cfm