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Dear Friend,
The Gospel this Sunday is about the conversion of a Samaritan woman (John 4:5-42). Although the disciples were not with Jesus most of the time He spent with the Samaritan woman, He must have related to them the whole encounter as He saw them amazed when they arrived and saw Him talking with her. It was not customary for Jews to interact with Samaritans, a woman at that. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus wrote about it.
Again, please focus on what Jesus taught His disciples – how the Samaritan woman was converted.
Read the Gospel to your family slowly and then relate it again to them in your own words. Follow the events as they unfolded. Then, talk about its highlights and symbolism so that the details of the conversion will be understood.
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Jesus was waiting for the Samaritan woman at a place significant to her – her ancestor’s well.
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It was noon – it highlights a person’s desire to drink.
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For this woman noontime means nobody else would be by the well – this woman was avoiding other (gossipy) women drawing water from that well as she had five husbands and the one she was living with now was not even her husband, a likely topic for gossip.
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Jesus used "water" to connect to its life-giving, life-sustaining characteristics -– the Samaritan woman would understand the need to drink water.
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Jesus said to her, "Go call your husband and come back" –- the "living water" was not only for Jews but also for Samaritans and Gentiles –- for everybody.
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The water jar symbolizes her submission to a life of illicit relations.
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Her going and leaving her water jar behind with Jesus -– signifies she received from Jesus "living water" that became in her a welling "spring". She had to follow Him. She was no longer afraid to face the people.
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The Samaritan woman at first addressed Jesus as "Sir", then as a "Prophet", and finally, as the "Messiah" –- signifying her conversion, which the other Samaritans also accepted. They came with her to meet Jesus and even invited Him to stay with them.
Point out to the family that the "living water" that Jesus offered to the Samaritan woman was a "gift of God" (v.10). Jesus taught His disciples that conversion is a grace of God -– a gift that one must be willing to accept like the Samaritan woman, even if she does not understand it.
Jesus was laying the ground and preparing His disciples for His teaching about "eating His flesh and drinking His blood" –- the Eucharist (John 6).
Meditation ~
How similar am I to the Samaritan woman? No, not with five spouses though, but a sinner as well.
Do I have her willingness to be open and talk with Jesus about His offer of the gift of the Father –- the "living water"?
But Jesus assured me of a "resurrection" to a new life.
Contemplation ~
Imagine yourself with Jesus by the well of Jacob and listen to Him telling the Samaritan woman,
"Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
Family Response ~
Like the Samaritan woman talk about Jesus the Christ and about how each one’s willingness to accept the offer of Jesus. Support each other to receive God’s gift.
Joe & Charito
THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
www.simbahayan.org
servants@simbahayan.org
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