AUDIO MEDITATION:

Stefano Erardi (Maltese, 1630-1716), Christ and the Samaritan Woman. Public domain.

FULL TEXT:

At the end of this Gospel, the woman leaves her water jar and goes into the town. It’s a remarkable detail because her purpose in coming to the well was to draw water. She leaves that task behind after encountering Jesus and goes to tell others, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?”

In this painting, the woman’s water jar is behind her as she faces Jesus, who extends a finger towards her. His posture reminds us of Michelangelo’s famous depiction of the Creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel. Jesus re-creates her in a way, and her imagination is opened to consider that he is the Christ, the Messiah.

We can suppose how townspeople viewed her, knowing that she has been with more than five men. Now she has become a source of good news for them—many of them began to believe in Jesus because of her invitation. Jesus has transformed her into a spring of water for others, welling up to eternal life.

How will Jesus re-create us this Lent? In our own transformation, how might we bring good news to others and become a spring of water for them?