March 8, 2026 at Saint Peter the Apostle and Saint William Churches in Naples, FL
Exodus 17: 3-7 + Psalm 95 + Romans 5 1-3, 5-8 + John 4: 5-42
This treasured and rich story is full of significant details that could easily provide a two-hour homily. The location, the importance of that well, and the absence of the disciples are quick examples. Told in our culture at this time in history, we can easily be distracted by her past with several husbands. Yet there is no suggestion that she is a sinner. She does not repent, and Jesus has no condemnation. What we might focus on is the fact that neither of them ever gets any water. In fact, she leaves the bucket behind which might be John’s way of moving our attention from a well and a bucket to something else. That something is revealed through their conversation. As always in John’s Gospel, this story is about the identity of Jesus and what happens to someone who comes to recognize him.
Something important happens in the dialogue. At the first, she knew only that he was a Jew, an outsider to her people and someone she should not be talking to. Then she recognizes him as a prophet, one who speaks the things of God, who opens a future she has never imagined as they talk about the future and the prayerful reunion of their two hostile religious factions. Finally, she realizes that he might be the Messiah, and Jesus confirms her suspicion by saying, “I am he.” At this point, something happens to her. No longer going for water, she goes after others bringing them to the source of living water. “Come and see” she says.
The just before this story, we hear about Nathanial who comes to Jesus in the night and takes a long time to realize who he visits. This story takes place at Noon. She does not come in secret and in darkness. She has found the light, and she wants to bring other into that light.
That living spring of water gushing up to eternal life is the Holy Spirit. Now, the one John the Baptist spoke of who would baptize by water and the Spirit is revealed, and in a sense the first to be so Baptized by the Spirit is this Samaritan woman, and we cannot miss what happens to her. She becomes a true disciple/evangelist going out and calling others to come and see.
She has no name, and whenever a Gospel gives us a nameless person, it is a way of drawing us into the story making it our own story. We all have a shady past just like that woman, but does not keep us from the Lord, and he makes nothing of it. We are all thirsty for something and keep thinking that something in this world will finally be enough, but it never is. We all have dreams for the future stirred up by the hope we find in God’s promise. Those of us who have met our Messiah, who have come to the well water of Baptism are the people who must be inviting others to come and see the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been Baptized by Jesus Christ, Baptized in his spirit. Moved by that Spirit what we say, what we do, what we hope for must surely tempt others to come and see what we have and what we have heard. The work of evangelism is our work. Bringing others to Jesus Christ, to the light, to the truth, and to joy of our faith is consequence and the first sign that we truly do believe.