Reflecting on the Word

By Rev. James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R.

When I saw him coming, I was afraid. I had just dropped my bucket into the  well and was pulling it up. What was a Jew doing here? Sychar was not a stopover  for the Jews. It was in Samaritan territory. Jews hated Samaritans, and the feeling  was returned. This went back centuries.

I could tell he was tired. It was almost noon and a scorching day. When he  asked for a drink, I couldn’t refuse. Even so, I asked him, “How can you, a Jew and  a man, ask me, a Samaritan and a woman, for a drink?” “You have the bucket,” he  said, smiling. 

As I was handing him a ladle of water, he said: “If you knew who was saying,  ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked me for one.” I just stared at this riddle maker. Then I pointed out the facts: I had the bucket and the well was deep. End  of discussion. 

But it wasn’t. He began to talk about water that satisfies thirst and water that  doesn’t. And then he said, “Whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst. I will  give them water that gushes up into eternal life.” 

You know, I believed him. I can’t explain why. That’s not all he said that day.  We talked about my life, his work, and a day when Jews and Samaritans would be  able to worship together. That was really a dream, I told him. But it wasn’t. After  his death—and resurrection—it came about. It turned out he was living water  after all. 

Consider/Discuss

  • What do you thirst for? 
  • How is Jesus life-giving water for you? 

Responding to the Word

Jesus, you are life-giving water that quenches our soul’s thirst. You continue  to meet us during our days, speaking to us so we might know you and what you  would do for us. Like the Samaritan woman, may we welcome you and speak to  you from our hearts.

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