Background: The Middle East is always short of water. There are few year-round streams. Underground water from wells, called ‘springs of living water’, was so important that settlement took place near them. When methods of plastering were discovered round 1550 BC it became possible to construct large underground cisterns and waterproof them to store rain water. [70% of rain falls between November and February]. In seasons of irregular rainfall life can be difficult. It was woman’s work to bring home water from the source. Romances, like that of Jacob and Rachel, began at wells, one of the ‘neutral’ places where men (watering animals) and women could meet. It was an essential part of a man’s honour to protect his womenfolk, with a strict understanding of woman’s work (the house: flat roof and yard with oven) and man’s (the fields); where in the house was public, and where was private, for the women and children.

Jew/ Samaritan: The hostility between Jew and Samaritan dated back to the conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 721 BC, when Judaea was spared. The conqueror deported the people of Samaria and replaced them with conquered peoples from elsewhere. To the Chosen People these incomers were pagans whom they regarded with great mistrust. The Samaritans did worship God on Mount Gerizim. There are still some Samaritans in Palestine.

JESUS has left Judea where the Pharisees have begun to keep an eye on him. It is about midday, John tells us. Is he referring to the heat or to the light (of the world)? The woman is astounded that a Jew should speak to her first, and that he should ask her for something. The Samaritans, though regarded as heretics by the Pharisees, were also awaiting the coming of the Messiah. The woman has agreed to enter into conversation with this Jew, and because she asks in good faith for an explanation of what is necessary to please God, Jesus allows her to discover that he is the Messiah, that the face of the world has changed. The discussion is theoretical to begin with but then gets down to lifestyle. True worship will not come from Temple or mountain but from the human heart, and all is a gift of God. The woman, who admits that she is not all that virtuous, accepts the gift and the pardon and goes off to proclaim what she has discovered to her neighbours. Even if not yet quite certain, she becomes a woman of faith, a missionary. Again God chooses whom He wishes. Jesus was tired when he sat by the well. He is energized by his conversation with the woman and seems to forget his hunger. The woman forgets her water jar, why she had come to the well in the first place, in her hurry to tell about what she has found.

The episode is beautifully put together. The woman is a real character, intelligent, shrewd, quick to change the subject when under pressure but, dazzled by his awareness of her private life, not afraid of the truth. The disciples are shocked to find Jesus in conversation with a woman but say nothing. Their puzzlement contrasts with the woman’s sense of urgency. She asks that she may never have to ‘come here’; Jesus’ command is to ‘call your husband and come here’. Her mission home prompts Jesus to reflect on the harvest, how reaper benefits from sower, a useful point of reflection on life for apostle or priest or young person.