The Wine at Jacob's Well

Dear Jesus, I praise you for your word and the gift that it is!!

John 4:5-42~
This reading is so beautiful! It is a little lesson in Salvation history and the journey of the bride to the Bridegroom. When I opened it this morning it was as if I had never seen it before! How often I have read this passage, but have not understood this wonderful gift.

You began the work of salvation back in the very beginning with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jacob's well gave an earthly gift of water to the people of the Old Covenant. They were the bride waiting for the Bridegroom. Their "husband" was the old covenant, the law and the prophets. The Samaritan woman represents the bride. She is a part of the people of Israel that has been away from the law, and they have had many "husbands". You tell her "the one that you have now is not your husband." And there you are, the Bridegroom, with the living water with which you will wash the bride to prepare her for the wedding feast. This is the water that you give as Spiritual gift. This water is the water that flows from your side as the Church is given. This is the new well, and the New Covenant. This is the water "welling up to eternal life" that cannot dry up, that does not fail to quench. The old covenant people would always be thirsty, would always be searching for the Bridegroom, unless they recognized you and embraced you as the One that they had been waiting for.

Here you are Lord!! With your arms open wide and the water flowing to bathe us in a nuptual bath and to quench us! You said "I thirst" as you died for the object of your desire, and the water was given from your Sacred Heart. You thirst for the Love of your bride. You desire her and you want her to ask you for the water.
The Church is the Bride prepared. She is walking down the aisle to you. She is still awaiting the final vows, and those that are supposed to be her bridesmaids and your groomsmen are not always very faithful. The guests and those that are invited are up to all sorts of nonsense in the sanctuary. They lie, they cheat and steal, they throw mud at her and try to slow her down, but she keeps walking, and she is led by some that are very faithful. Your vicar walks her down the aisle and does his best to get her to you.

The wedding feast is getting started in Heaven.
The table is being laid by the Saints. They are ready to welcome the new couple into the throneroom.

So much has been given since Jacob gave his people that old well. That water served well for the earthly journey. It was enough for a time, but now you are sitting on the well of the past and offering the water of eternal life that needs no bucket or cup. It never dries up and it will flow forever. It will become New Wine!