March 15, 2020
The Third Sunday for Lent (Year A)
Readings for Today
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“Make una come see one man wey tell me everything wey I don do. E fit be say na Him be the Christ?” John 4:29
Na the story of one woman wey meet Jesus for the well be this. She come the well for middle of the hot afternoon so that she go avoid the other women for her town. She dey fear to meet them because of how dem go judge her, as she be woman wey dey live for sin. For the well, she meet Jesus. Jesus talk with her for some time, and this simple conversation touch her deep for heart and change her life.
The first thing to note be say just the fact say Jesus talk with her touch her heart. She be Samaritan woman, and Jesus be Jewish man. Jewish men no dey talk with Samaritan women. But Jesus talk something more wey touch her deep for heart. As the woman herself tell us, He “tell me everything wey I don do.”
No be only say Jesus know everything about her past, as if He be person wey fit read mind or magician, make her marvel. This meeting get more meaning pass just say Jesus tell her all the sins wey she don commit before. Wetin really seem to touch her heart be say, even as Jesus know everything about her, all the sins for her past life and her relationships wey don break down, He still treat her with the highest respect and dignity. She never experience this kind thing before!
We fit dey sure say she go don dey face one kind shame for front of people for her community every day. The way she live before and the way she still dey live no be way of life wey people dey accept. She dey feel the shame, and as we talk above, na why she come the well for middle of the day. She dey avoid other people.
But Jesus dey there. He know everything about her, but He still want give her Water Wey Dey Give Life. He want quench the thirst wey she dey feel for her soul. As He dey talk with her, and as she dey experience how gentle He be and how He accept her, that thirst begin quench. E begin quench because wetin she really need, wetin all of us need, na this perfect love and acceptance wey Jesus dey offer. He offer am to her, and He dey offer am to us.
One thing wey catch attention be say the woman go away and “leave her water pot” for the well. She no even collect the water wey she come for. Or she collect am? As sign, the way she leave her water pot for the well show say this meeting with Jesus don quench her thirst. She no dey thirsty again, at least for her spirit. Jesus, the Water Wey Dey Give Life, don quench her thirst.
Today, reflect on the thirst wey dey inside you, wey you no fit deny. Once you recognise am, make up your mind to let Jesus quench am with Water Wey Dey Give Life. If you do this, you too go leave behind the many “water pots” wey no dey ever satisfy person for long.
Lord, na You be the Water Wey Dey Give Life wey my soul need. Make I meet You for the heat of my day, for the trials of life, and for my shame and guilt. Make I experience Your love, Your gentleness and how You accept me for these moments, and make that Love become the source of my new life for You. Jesus, na You I trust.
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