Several times I had invited a friend to attend a short course in Christianity, so as to give her the opportunity of deepening her faith by encountering Jesus in a different way. Various obstacles prevented her from accepting my early invitations. Eventually she agreed to attend the short course. However, one possible obstacle remained. I offered to drive her to the meeting place, but she insisted on driving herself so that she could leave during the weekend just in case the meeting wasnít as good as I promised her. She stayed the whole weekend and moved along her faith journey as she encountered Jesus in new ways and developed a deeper relationship with him.

The Gospel story we just heard provides an encounter in which we can see how the Samaritan woman reacts to Jesus and grows in faith. This Gospel reading is especially proclaimed during Lent as catechumens draw deeper in faith during preparation for baptism. The story is also for those who are baptized as they struggle to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus.

The story of the Samaritan woman illustrates how difficult it is to come to Jesus in faith because of various obstacles that stand in our way.

The Samaritan womanís first obstacle is the dislike of Samaritans by Jews, especially for a Samaritan woman. Her first response to Jesus asking her for water is "How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for water?"

How would we respond? When someone tries to interest us in something thatís religiously new, is our first reaction "No thanksóI already have all that I need"?

Young people, what is your response when you are asked to join a Youth Group? Adults, how to you answer when asked to learn more about your faith or to join a parish organization where you will experience Christ among its members?

 Jesus does not answer the Samaritan womanís question about him being a Jew, but neither is he sidetracked from his main goal. He explains that he is speaking of the water that springs up to eternal life, a water of baptism that will permanently end thirst. Initially, the woman is only attracted to Jesus on a level of convenience, i.e., not having to come to the well every day for water.

The woman is not finished trying to sidetrack Jesus. Next, she tries to take advantage of the fact that Jesus is obviously a religious figureóa prophet. Her question about worshiping in Jerusalem or on a mountain is a typical ploy to distract. However, Jesus refuses to be tricked by the womanís attempt to change the subject.

Today, we do much the same when we encounter someone who probes our lives. We are often adept at bringing up some distraction so as to avoid an invitation to experience Jesus in a new way.

Finally, the woman tries to shift Jesusí invitation to deeper faith to the distant future when the Messiah will come. However, Jesus does not let her off the hook. His, "I am He," confronts her with a demand for faith right now.

The evangelist, John, uses the story of the Samaritan woman to get us engaged with our faith. Near the end of his Gospel, he states that the reason for his writing is that "you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief, you may have life in his name."

The Samaritan woman encountering Jesus in the Gospel is, in a way, every man and woman. Their encounters are narrated for our sake, so that in them, we may recognize ourselves and be drawn more deeply into meeting Jesus in our lives.

To deepen our level of faith in Jesus, we must move beyond where we are at this moment in time. For us to be on a journey, requires us to move. We must leave the familiar for the unfamiliar, as did my friend and the Samaritan woman.

What invitation are we going to accept to deepen our faith in Jesus?