The Gospel for this Sunday is that of Jesus and the Samaritan woman who meet at the well. There is a long form and a short form but it is from the Gospel of John, 4: 5-42. It is one of my favorite Gospels as it shows us how Jesus reaches out in dialogue with a woman of Samaria. Jesus was tired and sat down by the well around noon; his disciples had gone to town to buy some food. When the woman comes to draw water, Jesus says, "Give me a drink."Jews did not talk to Samaritans and especially to a woman so she is startled. Jesus then says to her, "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 have given you living water."
Jesus continues to talk with her and finally she is so convinced that Jesus is so special that she runs off to tell others to come and see. Jesus then spends two days there with Samaritans - this must have been startling for the disciples as Jews and Samaritans usually avoided each other.
I often go back to this Gospel as I find much to reflect on and I realize that when Pope Francis speaks of cultivating the culture of the encounter, Jesus did this!
Jesus continues to talk with her and finally she is so convinced that Jesus is so special that she runs off to tell others to come and see. Jesus then spends two days there with Samaritans - this must have been startling for the disciples as Jews and Samaritans usually avoided each other.
I often go back to this Gospel as I find much to reflect on and I realize that when Pope Francis speaks of cultivating the culture of the encounter, Jesus did this!
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