“How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”
Jn 4:5-42
BIBLICAL
Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar. near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
That well was about 2.5 km. from the town. Why would a woman go there in-stead just drawing water from a well in the town? Perhaps, she was an outcast. And perhaps the reason was the number of men she had in her life.
The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”
Jews and Samaritans were hostile to each other or at least, avoided each other. The Jews despised the Samaritans because they were of Jewish and pagan descent. They did not preserve the purity of the Jewish religion. They were considered ritually impute. Jews, therefore, would never drink from any vessel that the Samaritans touched.
Moreover, Jesus was a rabbi. No rabbi would be caught talking to a woman in public.
“If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,‘ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
Jesus was talking about water of life. But the Samaritan woman misunderstand him. She thought she was talking about flowing water. Flowing water, of course, was better than the stagnant water of a well.
Here we find a literary device employed by John in his gospel. Jesus speaks. He is misunderstood. This misunderstanding permits Jesus to explain his message to his listener.
In Jn 3:3, we have another example of this literary device. Nicodemus misunderstands the words of Jesus: "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born anothen.' Nicodemus said to him, 'How can a person once grown old be born anothen? Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?'"
Anothen is a Greek word. It has two meanings. The first is “from above” and the second is “again”. What Jesus said was this: “No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” What Nicodemus understood was this: “How can a person once grown old be born again?” That misunderstanding permitted Jesus to explain to Jesus the necessity of being baptized.
The water of life or living water which Jesus spoke of symbolizes the Holy Spirit and his work of recreating us in God’s image and sustaining in us the new life which comes from God.
The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep.
Sir is the translation used for the Greek word “kyrios”. Its literal translation is master or lord. It is the respectful form of address for a human being or for God. In fact, the Greek bible uses the word “kyrios” to translate “Adonai”. Adonai is a substitute for Yahweh. The Jews out of respect will never utter the word “Yahweh”. The would use “Adonai” instead.
Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”
The Samaritans erected their own temple on Mt. Gerizim in the 4th century BC in order to rival the temple built by the Jews on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem.
The Jews called Mt. Gerizim, Mt. Ebal.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth.
To worship he Father is to worship him appropriately.
The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one speaking with you.”
Take note that the expectation of the Jews and the Samaritans about the Messiah is different. The Jews expected a Messiah who is a king. The Samaritans expected a prophet like Moses.
“I am he” can also be translated as “I am.” “I am” was how God called himself when he talked to Moses the first time: “God replied, ‘I am who am.’ Then he added, ‘This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you’” (Ex 3:14).
Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.”
The Samaritan woman became a missionary of Jesus. Through her word many Samaritan believed in Jesus. At the last Supper, Jesus prayed not only for his dis-ciples but also for people like her: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word” (Jn 17:20).
RECONCILIATION
Samaritan and Jews
They were not on friendly terms. The Jews looked down on them and of course, the Samaritans did not like that. Why did the Jews look down on them? In the year 722 before Christ, the Assyrians conquered the Northern Kingdom, the Kingdom of Israel. The Israelites of the Northern Kingdom were deported. Only a few remained. The Israelites of the Southern Kingdom, the Kingdom of Judah was not conquered. The Assyrians brought other peoples into the Northern Kingdom. The Israelites who remained there intermarried with these foreigners. Their descendants were the Samaritans. The result was not only mixed blood but also mixed religion. It was because the Samaritans did not preserve the purity of the Jewish religion that the Jews despised them and did not want any relationship with them.
Jesus did not share the attitude of his fellow Jews towards the Samaritans. In fact, in at least one parable, a Samaritan was the good guy—the parable of the Good Samaritan. When ten lepers asked Jesus to heal them, he healed all of them, including one Samaritan. Why? Because came to reconcile man to God and men to each other.
Elements of Reconciliation
What is needed if we want to be reconciled be it with God or our fellowman?
First, we must be aware that we did something that weakened or damaged our relationship with another.
Sometimes we are not aware of it. We need to be told. If someone hurts you and that person is not aware that he has hurt you, it is wrong for you to say: “Dapat alam niya.” But the point is, hindi nga alam.
On the other hand, we might think that there is nothing to be hurt about. We say, “Balat sibuyas naman siya.” The point is not that you think the other person should not be hurt. The point is that person was hurt. And you are the one who hurt him.
Second, we must apologize.
Sorry is just one word. But it’s not always easy to say it, especially if our pride is so high.
There are also many ways of saying “sorry”. Once upon a time, my superior said something at table that made me angry. The following morning I was surprised to see a note on my door. It contained only one sentence, “I’m sorry for having made you angry last night.”
There’s also another problem. Pride may make it difficult for us to say, “Sorry.” It is also pride which makes it difficult for us to accept the apology. Pride hardens our hearts. If you swallowed your pride and apologized and the other person did not accept your apology, then it is now his problem. You did what you should do. Be at peace.
Third, we must do restitution. Restitution means that we have to do something to fix the consequences of our actions.If I broke the window of a neighbour, it is not enough to say, “I’m sorry.” I must pay for the broken window.
Fourth, we must change the behaviour that weakened or damaged a relationship. This is called conversion. And this is a proof that we are truly sorry. If you are sorry, will you again do that action that hurt someone? If a son or daughter neglects his or her studies and that causes his parents to be angry, he should now study hard so that his parents will not be angry again.
What we have said about reconciling with our fellow human beings, we can also say about our reconciliation with God.
First, I must be aware that I have weakened or damaged my relationship with God by committing sin. And the sin I committed may be against God (first three commandments) or against my fellowman (the next 7 commandments). A nightly examination of conscience is helpful to make me aware if I have committed sin.
Second, I must apologize to God. Confession is the necessary way of apolo-gizing to God when I commit grave sin.
Third, I must do restitution. If I have stolen something, I must return it. If I have tarnished the
reputation of someone by saying negative things about that person, then I must now point out positive things about that person.
And fourth, I must change my attitude and behaviour. If I seldom pray, I must now find time—no matter how short---to pray everyday.
CONCLUSION
When we received the ashes on Ash Wednesday, we heard the words: “Turn away from your sins and believe in the gospel.” What does turn away from sin mean? It means leave our sins behind in order to turn to God. And that is what reconciliation is all about.
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The Salesians of Don Bosco is a religious congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to the welfare of the young. If you feel called by God to give your life for the good of the young, you may want help in discovering if this is really God's will for you. Please get in touch with the Vocation Director (Don Bosco North Province, Philippines) - 0917-7930112 - finvoc@yahoo.com - Bro. MON CALLO SDB.
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