THE SAMARITAN WOMAN (Jn 4:1-15)(Jn 4:7-10)
Prayer:
O Jesus, give me the living waters of the Kingdom.
Imagination:
Picture Jesus speaking to the woman by the well.
Context:
John’s gospel has three central stories. The Woman at the Well represents a beginner. The healed blind man (C9) represents a disciple in the middle of trials and Lazarus (C11) represents the disciple facing death. In this first part, her conversion begins.
Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud.)
A woman of Samaria came to draw water at the well. Jesus said to her, “Give me to drink.” She said, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him and he would give you living water.”
She asked, “Are you greater than Jacob who gave us this well?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I shall give, will never thirst. It will be a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty, or have to keep coming here to draw water.” (Jn 4:7-15)
Thoughts: (Read all. Ponder those that attract you.)
- This meeting at the well seems like a chance occurrence. Really, God planned this “from the beginning.”
- Jesus humbles himself. He breaks all the social customs which divide a Jew from a Samaritan or a man from a woman.
- Both are deeply interested in water. The woman for natural water and Jesus for the “water welling up to eternal life.”
- Because of her thirst, she opens her heart. “Sir, give me this water.”
- She is prepared to receive, but some obstacles are present.
Affections: (When one touches your heart, use your own words.)
- O God, you meet me in the common events of my daily life.
- O Jesus, You come to me. You speak. You invite.
- As I respond you reveal yourself to me.
- Lord, I thirst for doors to your Kingdom.
- Give me your water and I will thirst even more.
- O Jesus, I am created for pure heavenly water.
- Help me to reject polluted earthly water.
Resolutions: (Possibly you might want to make your own.)
+ Today, I will see Jesus coming to me in ordinary events.
+ I will ask for living water.
Thought for the Day: (To recall your meditation.)
“Whoever drinks the water that I will give, will never thirst.”