Sr. Dr. BincyThumpanathu CMC
READING: “Jesus came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “will you give me a drink?” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “you are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” Jesus answered her, “if you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst again. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “sir, give me this water so that I won’t be thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water” (John 4:5-15).
REFLECTION: In those days Jews and Samaritans did not associate with one another. In St. Luke’s gospel we read of how the inhabitants of a Samaritan village, through which Jesus passed on his journey to Jerusalem refuse to receive him, vividly illustrating the loathing of the Samaritans for the Jews (cf. Luke 9:52-53). However, what we see here is Jesus, weary from the journey, sitting down by the well and asking this Samaritan woman for a drink. This indeed is most unusual. First of all, he who is Israel’s Messiah speaks to a Samaritan woman. By tradition, at that time, a rabbi would never speak in public with a woman, not even with his own wife. It would have been unheard of for a Jewish person to ask a favour of a Samaritan, or to be offered a drink from a Samaritan’s cup. Secondly, the one who gives rest is, himself weary. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). Thirdly, he who has living water asks for a drink from a well. “On the last day, the great day of the festival, Jesus stood and cried out: “let anyone who is thirsty, come to me! Let anyone who believes in me come and drink” (Jn 7:37-38).
Taking these factors into consideration Jesus’ request for a drink can be perceived as symbolic. Jesus’ thirst was not so much for water, but for the encounter with a parched soul. Arousing the interest of the woman in living water, he said to her, “if you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water” (v.10). When confronted with the truth of her own life, the woman comes to believe that she had encountered the Christ. Jesus’ mercy, a mercy that overcomes all prejudices had brought about a huge transformation in her soul, leading her to ask for living water (v.15). The leaving behind of her old water jar symbolizes the renunciation of her sinful life (v.28). Additionally, she is inspired to enthusiastically witness the Messiah (v.29).
Jesus had no difficulty whatsoever in speaking with the Samaritan woman who was quite accustomed to being looked down by the Jews. Having listened attentively, to what Jesus had to say, she humbly acknowledges his greatness as well as her own sinfulness. Those who actively seek the Lord would do well to consider her humility and her response to the Lord’s words. Let us recognize the beauty of the soul, be alert to its movements, and endeavor to keep it always in accordance with the will of God.
PRAYER: Lord, look on me with compassion. Grant that I may experience a real conversion and transformation so that I, like the Samaritan woman, may fearlessly and with conviction witness you in everything I say and do.
CONTEMPLATION: Deep inside all of us, who come into the world, there is a great longing for our Lord and Creator. Sit comfortably, close your eyes and experience the presence of the Lord. Imagine that he is coming into your life. Ponder: what, for me, are the hungers and thirsts which only the Lord can satisfy? Offer all that you are and all that you have to him and keep your heart and mind open to him. Let his talk enlighten you and comfort you, and let this encounter with him lift your thoughts to heaven. Pause for a while and emerge with a refreshed soul and a rejuvenated spirit.
ACTION: Willingly accept the Lord’s interventions and be open to his promptings.
