Every once in a while I will hear people state that they are not getting anything out of Mass. Or some young people will say “Deacon Bob, Mass is just sooo boring, I don’t even know why I have to go”. These grumblings remind me of our first reading from Exodus. Here too people are grumbling even after all the wonderful miracles God has worked for them; they easily lose their trust and faith and grumble against Moses and God. In our second reading St. Paul tells the Romans to strengthen their faith by focusing on the fact that Jesus died for them while they were still sinners, trying to deepen their love and trust in Christ. Finally, we have today’s Gospel reading about the Samaritan woman at the well.
I love how our blessed Lord Jesus can take ordinary common things to illustrate deep spiritual points. Here He uses water from the well of Jacob to share that He will give us the “living” water which will satisfy us more than any earthly water ever could. Once we partake of it, we will never be thirsty again. He then uses crops to illustrate how the fields are ripe for the harvest of souls. This story is a gold mine of spiritual treasures to meditate on, but how does it relate to us? At Mass we can receive innumerable amounts of graces every time we go. The problem is we put up impediments which block these graces from getting to us.
If you want to get more out of Mass, then ask God to pour the graces out on you. However, you cannot receive great amounts of the living water if you only bring a “shot glass” to the fountain. What do I mean? Leave your attitudes and grumblings at the door. Ask God to open you up to receive all that He has for you. Be not afraid to become a living receptacle for the graces and gifts He has for you. Listen to the words being said and enter into the Mass by responding and singing and listening. In utilizing all of these things you will receive a true drink of the living water from our Lord. So there you go, put aside your shot glass and open wide, and may God richly bless you always