She struggled with shame, which is evident by the time of the day she journeyed to the well. First, he spoke to her despite the fact that she was a woman. John 4:5-14. Being a woman, she was a non-citizen in a culture that often viewed women as chattel. Mixed up with a wrong crowd, this poor woman from Samaria has quite a reputation. One of the encounters is between Jesus and a Samaritan woman, who is often referred to as the woman at the well. She didn’t think much of … It is midday, and Jesus and his disciples have arrived at a Samaritan town called Sychar which is close to the land Jacob gave to Joseph’s descendants. James Eaton, Pastor Third Sunday in Lent/A • March 19, 2017 John 4:5-42. To be wanted, to be cared for when no one, not even herself, could see anything of value in her—this is grace indeed. John 4:5-6 sets the scene for this narrative. Have you ever felt like you were too far gone to be of any use to God? 7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) Delivered to your inbox. Background: A Samaritan woman meets Jesus alone when she goes to draw water from her town well. This reflection on John 4:5-14 considers how Jesus values the people scorned by others, in this instance a Samaritan Woman. background-color:#444; So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. The spiritual thirst of the Samaritan woman was recognised by Jesus. The Samaritan woman’s marital status may be unusual — she seems to have been particularly unlucky with respect to her husbands. a.social-tw{background: transparent url("https://derrydiocese.org/images/social-sprite.png") -30px 0 no-repeat} First, the fact that the Samaritan woman is unhappy is evident from the gospel passage. One afternoon, this Samaritan woman went to draw water from the well, and when she arrived she found a Jewish man sitting on the wall of the well. A Samaritan woman went to the well for a necessity, something she couldn’t live without—water. Being a Samaritan, she was an outcast from the Jews, who considered Samaritans to be half-breed Jews, perverting the true religion of Israel. This Gospel episode is referred to as "a paradigm for our engagement with truth", in the Roman Curia book A Christian reflection on the New Age, as the dialogue says: "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know" and offers an example of "Jesus Christ the bearer of the water of life". A spring of living water welling up in us – what a striking image of the fullness of life offered to us in Christ. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans. The Samaritan woman, not unlike her countrymen, the “good” Samaritan, (Lk. In the eyes of the Jews, the Samaritans did not worship God correctly, as they did not go to the temple in Jerusalem and they adopted the practices of the neighbouring religions. And they were the first witnesses to the resurrection. A reflection on the spiritual thirst we experience in our life based on the Bible story of the Samaritan woman. The Samaritan woman makes her way to the well with heavy-footed resignation. She has been living a sinful life. Jesus spoke to a woman and an outsider The woman Jesus chose to interact with was a Samaritan. Who are you? Reflection by Bishop Donal. Reflection on many aspects of the samaritan women. 10: 30-36), and the Samaritan leper cured by Jesus, (Lk 17: 11), is a lightning rod of controversy among Jesus’ contemporaries. […] Reflection by Bishop Donal The story of the 'nameless' Samaritan Woman at the Well, recorded only in the Gospel of St John, is full of truths and powerful lessons. The woman was not silent, nor was she limited to the private world of women. The story is found in the Book of John, Chapter 4:4-42. The Samaritan woman’s understanding is blocked by a particular sin, so Jesus pinpoints it to take it out of the way. But there are many other valuable truths we glean from this story. Daily Scriptureis also available. In fact, we are transformed into missionary disciples, who go forth to bring the Good News to others, like the Samaritan woman did and like Mother Teresa did, going forth then to spread the love of Christ and satiate His thirst for the salvation of souls. She is a symbol of the Church not yet made righteous. Reflections for discussion and consideration: By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://derrydiocese.org/, a.social{ We thirst for so many things; a better life, more peace and greater serenity. Jesus was able to look beyond the cultural expectations; he was not tainted by the hatred and prejudice prevalent at the time. Catholic Online offers these reflections of the great Bishop of Hippo, Augustine on this passage as we all continue our Lenten Pilgrimage of conversion: A Samaritan Woman Came to Draw Water, From a treatise on John by Saint Augustine, bishop. An outcast in her own community, the Samaritan woman even despised herself, but Jesus recognised her spiritual thirst and engaged with her. Many people are searching for meaning in their lives; there are many for whom God may seem distant. The Samaritan woman didn’t go through the women’s ministry at a church. It’s recorded in the Bible that “Man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD does man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Your Story. When Jesus asked the woman to draw him water from the well, he broke several traditional views, not only by associating with a Samaritan and being willing to drink from what would be deemed an unclean vessel, but also by speaking to a woman on her own. Regardless of the entanglements of our lives, He values all of us enough to actively seek us, to draw us to His intimacy. Her marital history, however, does not make her a sinner. A woman came. Background: A Samaritan woman meets Jesus alone when she goes to draw water from her town well. The Samaritan woman story must be reconsidered. Reflection. There were two groups of peopl… During his encounter with the woman at the well, Jesus broke three Jewish customs. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria. Then, like the Samaritan woman, we are no longer thirsty. Righteousness follows from the conversation. 25/03/2017 . Are you nobody too? As she approached, Jesus was there, and He asked her for a drink of water. The Samaritan woman in this Sunday's gospel narrative exemplifies the search that everyone has embarked upon. In fact, we are transformed into missionary disciples, who go forth to bring the Good News to others, like the Samaritan woman did and like Mother Teresa did, going forth then to spread the love of Christ and satiate His thirst for the salvation of souls. Samaritans were considered outsiders and were looked down on by the Jewish people. Father of all,We thank you that you do not bypass anyone but choose to invite all to draw nearHelp us to see the needs of those around us and to be generous with the gifts we have to offerAmen. John 4:5-6 sets the scene for this narrative. Are we able to look beyond the perspectives of our own culture when it contradicts the way God sees things? Last Sunday the Gospel about Jesus and the Samaritan woman (John 4:5-42) was proclaimed at my parish. This story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well is a fascinating story with many lessons to learn. Being with a man who isn’t her husband is self-explanatory but what’s wrong with her having had five husbands? Priests and parishioners of the diocese are asked to create opportunities in their parish for discussion of each Gospel reflection. Second, she was a Samaritan woman, and the Jews traditionally despised Samaritans. } John records these words: “There came a woman of Samaria to draw water” (Jn. An 18th Century painting of the Jesus at the well with the Samaritan woman by Angelika Kauffman Jesus’ interaction with the unnamed Samaritan ‘Woman … The idea that she chose to divorce five men is not sustainable. 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?”, 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. It is midday, and Jesus and his disciples have arrived at a Samaritan town called Sychar which is close to the land Jacob gave to Joseph’s descendants. March 21, 2017 by James. About First Reflection; About the Author; Conversations Before the Cross 3: Samaritan Woman. We often assume, perhaps from outward appearances, that we know what is going on in the lives of others. In what ways does today's Gospel teach us on the dangers of such assumptions and judgements? Where do you get that living water? ), 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. The story of the 'nameless' Samaritan Woman at the Well, recorded only in the Gospel of St John, is full of truths and powerful lessons. Most likely, the church women would have never listened to what she had to say. Mar 10, - A reflection by Bishop Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry of the Gospel of the third Sunday of Lent 'The Samaritan Woman at the Well'. ©2019. She came in ignorance, she … * * * The best news. cursor:pointer; How can your parish recognise and offer continued support. The Samaritan woman develops trust in the man who dares to speak to her, who, as a Samaritan and a woman, was a marginalized person in Jewish society. The Samaritan woman Jesus met faced prejudice from her own community. Reflection Questions: Woman at the Well (John 4) ... women could have initiated divorce in the 1st entury, it would have been rare (if not impossible) for a wom-an to have done so on her own, let alone five different times. (We used the reading from Year A … So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. In John’s Gospel the Samaritan woman at the well is the first person to whom Jesus openly reveals himself as Messiah. All Rights Reserved. What was that sin? The Samaritan woman was a foreigner from a despised religious group, but her story made a clear statement about the role of women in the early Christian communities. Conversations Before the Cross 3: Samaritan Woman A Sermon for the First Congregational Church of Albany, NY by Rev. 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