Just a quick addendum to my previous comment. The "forms" that Augstine uses in is dialogue is for example, a 90 degree right angle. The carpenter labors to create it with wood and does his best. But the "perfection" of 90 degrees exists timelessly with or without him. Hope that helps. :)

As always an excellent lesson form the good bishop. Thanks again Fr. Barron for making these efforts. Your sermons are a welcome relief from simple platitudes that sometimes pass as homilies. The most amazing thing about Christian teaching throughout history is their consistancy. God spoke in the Old Testament exactly how He speaks through Jesus in the NT. I am currently reading St Augustine "On Free Choice of the Will" It is a classical dialogue in which Augustine methodically walks his student through the realization of the "forms or numbers" which exist as concepts in our minds as unchangeable "truths." He explains that we can only seek them and understand them but they exist without us. They are a part of creation and a sign of the Creator. They are a "calling card" from God so that we may know Him. The beauty of this Gospel and this homily is that once again Jesus reiterates the timeless nature of what is TRUE. As Fr. Barron has said, theTruth is already at the well, waiting for us to discover it. The bonus for us is the loving patience that the Father has till we get there.

Unfortunately, the Gospel reading does not start at John 4:4--"He (Jesus) had to pass through Samaria". At that time, the contempt between Jews and Samaritans was such that a person traveling from Jerusalem to Galilee would choose to the long route on the other side of Jordan River rather than the direct route through Samaria. Jesus had a Divine Appointment with this fortunate woman at the well. The "Hound of Heaven" searches for us, and will meet us where we are at, but loves us too much to leave us there. Praise God!

Bishop Barron I am confused. This morning I attended a Bible Study on the Book of Revelation. The instructor had a completely different explanation of the Woman at the Well Story. He said she symbolized Jerusalem and her five husbands were not really men but different gods/kings that she had worshipped. Is that a valid understanding of the Woman at the Well?

Great learning and eye opening talk. When Bishop Barron mentioned how we should let God find us, I remembered that story in Genesis where after Adam and Eve has eaten the forbidden fruit, and their eyes were opened, they hid themselves from God. And God asking man, "Where are you?" I guess man's story from the beginning of the fall of man has always been this story. God searches and man hides. Thank you for that wonderful message Bishop.