Third Sunday of Lent [A]

March 15, 2020

John 4:5-42

We relate to Jesus in many ways. Some consider Him as a teacher, some call Him as a friend, and some others would simply acclaim Him as Lord and Savior. However, little known to us that the Gospel introduces Him as the bridegroom.

The idea that Jesus as our spouse is awkward and difficult to accept. One may say, “If I am a woman, it is fine to have Jesus as my husband. One may think, “If I am single, it is ok to get married to Jesus. But if I am already married, does it mean Jesus would be my second husband, or shall I divorce my first husband?” These kinds of concerns are surely valid, yet these are rooted in our human and even sexual understanding of marriage. Then, what kind of bridegroom Jesus is?

In order to answer this, we need to understand some symbols in today’s Gospel. Jesus went into a well and John the evangelist made it clear that it is not just ordinary well, but Jacob’s well. A Samaritan woman then came to fetch water and met Jesus there. For us, it is just an ordinary story of Jesus’ meeting any woman, just like when Jesus visited Mary and Martha, or Jesus helped a woman caught in adultery. Yet, when we know our Scriptures, the meeting is far from ordinary. It is something to do with a man finding a bride. In Gen 29, Jacob found beautiful Rachel near the well when she was about to water the sheep. In Exo 3, after Moses fled from Egypt, he went to the land of Midian, and near the well, he defended the women being harassed by unruly shepherds. One of these women would eventually become his future wife.

However, the Gospel clearly shows that Jesus neither sought any wife nor married the Samaritan woman. Yes, it is true that Jesus remained single for his entire life, but again, we are not speaking in the human and literal level. If Jesus is the divine Bridegroom, the Samaritan woman stands also for the true bride of Christ. No wonder, the fathers of the Church, would identify the Samaritan woman as the symbol of the Church. Like the Samaritan woman who is a gentile, the Church is also coming from many nations. Like the Samaritan woman who struggled with her marriage life, the Church also are struggling with many sin and weakness. Like the Samaritan woman who was waiting for a Messiah, the Church also is in need of a Savior.

It is truly weird to see Jesus as our groom especially when we are stacked in too humanly understanding. Yet, on spiritual level, to have Jesus as our groom means we have someone who loves us dearly and intimately, someone who will protect and provide for us, someone who will accept our imperfections and someone who will willingly give his life for our sake.

The covid-19 virus has wreaked havoc the world. What is terrible with this virus is not only it extremely contiguous and has no definite cure yet, it forces humanity to show its basic survival instinct: fear and even selfishness. However, this is the best opportunity to grow in faith. Our faith is not empty because we hold on to someone, and He is our Bridegroom.

 

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP