“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
Rev. Richard Rohr has a unique phrase relating to the Woman at the Well story as an “encounter of the giver, the given, and the gift.” Simply put, the giver is Jesus, the gift is the Living Water, and the given is the woman He meets at the well. End of story. But not really.
This Gospel Story has much more to ponder, sift, and make one’s own. So much symbolism that enables you to place yourself in the story and be given perhaps a new look at your relationship with Jesus and His movement in your life.
The nameless woman (whose life we come to know as the story goes on) has been given, in a way, a new lease on her life after her lengthy conversation with Jesus. She is so excited she wants to share her good news with the whole town.
She drops her jar of water (symbolizing perhaps her past life) and runs toward the town, shouting joyfully, “Come and see a man who has told me everything I have done; could He be the Christ?” in a way, she became the bearer of good news.
What about you and me? The Apostles gave us their businesses and nets—the Samaritan Woman gave her water jar, symbolizing her security and shame.
What is God asking you to leave behind so that you may also spread the Good News of Jesus Christ? What are you willing to give? What gift do you need to ask from Jesus? The Giver with the Living Water is waiting at the well for you.
Sister Celeste Hupert, CSFN
