The Singing in the Wood: Today's Gospel Reading (John 4:5-42): A Selection of Homilies

Sunday, March 8, 2026

Today's Gospel Reading (John 4:5-42): A Selection of Homilies

Samaritana (Samaritan Woman) by Julio Romero de Torres.

Today's readings, with particular emphasis on John 4:5-42, are particularly worth study and reflection. One aspect that I find fascinating is how Hosea* is fulfilled in Christ's interactions at Jacob's Well. God seeks out a thirsty, lost Judah, as one seeking a lost child or sheep. Even the five husbands of the Samaritan woman serve a dual role, reflecting the captors of the northern kingdom: Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and (present) Rome. Today's post is a collection of homilies on today's Gospel.

*Here are some of the relevant passages from the prophet Hosea.

15And there I will give her her vineyards, and make the Valley of A'chor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. 16 “And in that day, says the LORD, you will call me, ‘My husband,’ and no longer will you call me, ‘My Ba'al.’ 17For I will remove the names of the Ba'als from her mouth, and they shall be mentioned by name no more. 18And I will make for you g a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish h the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will make you lie down in safety. 19And I will espouse you for ever; I will espouse you in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. 20I will espouse you in faithfulness; and you shall know the LORD. 21“And in that day, says the LORD, I will answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth; 22and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezre'el; i 23 and I will sow him j for myself in the land. And I will have pity on Not pitied, and I will say to Not my people, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say ‘You are my God.’ ”

PRESS, IGNATIUS. Ignatius Bible: Revised Standard Version - Burgundy - Second Catholic Edition (pp. 2149-2150). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.

6 “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up. 2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” 4What shall I do with you, O E'phraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away.

PRESS, IGNATIUS. Ignatius Bible: Revised Standard Version - Burgundy - Second Catholic Edition (p. 2155). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.

11For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed. When I would restore the fortunes of my people, 7 when I would heal Israel, the corruption of E'phraim is revealed, and the wicked deeds of Samar'ia; for they deal falsely, the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid without. 2But they do not consider that I remember all their evil works.

PRESS, IGNATIUS. Ignatius Bible: Revised Standard Version - Burgundy - Second Catholic Edition (pp. 2155-2156). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.

Below are several gathered homilies, as well as a few other related selections, on the fourth chapter of John. Even though not a Catholic, I included a short excerpt from a message by Rev. Billy Graham.