Returning from his pastoral visit to the parish of Santa Maria Liberatrice in Testaccio, the Holy Father came to his study window at the Apostolic Palace at noon today for the customary Sunday Angelus. Here is a translation of his words to the faithful:
Dear brothers and sisters,
On this third Sunday of Lent, the liturgy re-proposes this year one of the most beautiful and profound texts in the Bible: the dialog between Jesus and the Samaritan woman (cfr Jn 4,5-42).
St. Augustine, about whom I have been speaking amply in the Wednesday catecheses, was rightly fascinated by this story and made a memorable comment about it. It is impossible to reduce to a brief explanation the richness of this Gospel page (he said): it must be read and meditated upon personally, assimilating oneself into that woman who, on a day like any other, came to draw water from the well and there, found Jesus, seated by it, 'weary from travelling', in the heat of the noonday sun.
"Give me a drink," he tells her, leaving her astounded. It was, in fact, unaccustomed for a Jew to address a Samaritan, who was moreover a stranger.
But the woman's wonder was destined to grow even more: Jesus spoke of 'living water' capable of extinguishing thirst and to become in her "a spring of water that gushes forth eternal life'. He also showed he knew her personal life. He revealed to her that the time had come for her to adore the only true God in spirit and in truth; and finally, he confided in her - a most rare thing, indeed - that he was the Messiah. All this, from the real sensory experience of thirst!
The theme of thirst runs throughout all of John's Gospel: from the encounter with the Samaritan woman, to the great prophecy during the feast of Tabernacles (Jn 7,37-38), uo to the Cross, when Jesus, before dying, said in order to fulfill the prophecy: "I thirst" (Jn 19,28).
The thirst of Christ is a door of access to the mystery of God, who made himself thirsty in order to quench our thirst, just as he made himself poor in order to enrich us (cfr 2Cor 8,().
Yes, God has thirst of our faith and our love. Like a good and merciful father, he wants for us all possible good, and this good is he himself.
The Samaritan woman instead represents the existential dissatisfaction of someone who has not found what he is looking for: she has had 'five husbands' and is now living with another man; her going to and from the well expresses a repetitive and resigned life.
But everything changed for her that day, thanks to her conversation with the Lord Jesus, who affected her so much that she forgot her water jar and ran to tell the people of the village: "Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?" (Jn 4,28-29)
Dear brothers and sister, let us ourselves open our hearts to a trustful listening to the word of God in order, as the Samaritan woman did, to meet Jesus who reveals to us his love and tells us: the Messiah, your Savior - "I am he, the one who is speaking with you (Jn 4,26).
May Mary - the first and perfect disciple of the Word made flesh - obtain this gift for us.
After the Angelus prayers, the Pope had the following messages:
Recent floods have devastated wide coastal areas of Ecuador, causing very serious damages, which have added to those caused earlier by the eruption of the volcano Tungurahua.
Even as I entrust to the Lord the victims of these calamities, I express my personal closeness to all who are living hours of anguish and tribulation, and I invite everyone to a fraternal solidarity with them so that the peoples of the area may return, as soon as possible, to the normalcy of daily life.
Next Saturday, March 1, at 5 p.m., I will preside at the Aula Paolo VI at a Marian vigil with the university students of Rome. Participating in the vigil, through radio-TV linkage, are students from other nations of Europe and the Americas.
We will invoke the intercession of Mary Sedes Sapientiae (Seat of Wisdom), so that Christian hope may sustain the building of a civilization of love in these two continents and in the whole world.
Dear university students, I expect to see you in great numbers.
After greeting French-speaking pilgrims, he added a special message in French and English:
I also wish to greet the residents of Quebec City, Canada, which celebrates this year the 400th anniversary of its foundation. On this important occasion, I am happy to associate myself through prayer and thanksgiving with the Diocese of Quebec which is also preparing to host the 47th International Eucharistic Congress.
I would like to extend a cordial invitation to Catholics throughout the world to support, by their prayers and their presence, the 49th International Eucharistic Congress to be celebrated in Quebec City from 15-22 June 2008.
For English-speaking pilgrims, he said:
I welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at today’s Angelus.
As we continue our Lenten journey may our resolve to follow closely the path of Jesus be strengthened through prayer, forgiveness, fasting and assistance to those in need. I trust your visit to Rome will increase your understanding of the faith and deepen your love of the universal Church.
Upon all of you and your dear ones, I gladly invoke the strength and peace of Christ the Lord.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 24/02/2008 21:51]