On the Road Home: How to Journey SafelySample

Day 5 – From seeking water to finding a never-ending fountain: the discovery of the Samaritan woman (John 4: 1-26)

The Samaritan woman came from an ethnic group that was rejected by the Jews. She had no education, no real standing in society.

Jesus took the initiative to meet her and talk to her. He felt tired and asked for water. It was a normal everyday encounter, but at the same time, it was uncommon. The woman knew that this man had travelled and was thirsty after his journey, so it was perfectly normal that he requested water. However, his encounter broke all the protocol of that time. It was very unusual for a Jew to approach a Samaritan. Jesus identified with this woman. Like her, he also was rejected and judged negatively by others., So he approached her. He had many opportunities to address big crowds, but this time he didn’t miss the chance of talking with one single person, a poor and vulnerable foreign woman.

What a telling example for us today. Here we have a woman belonging to a people that had been despised and discriminated against. She knows the value of water. Jesus comes close and asks to quench his thirst with water from the well. Water is essential to life, a vital element to our physical survival. We are not told whether Jesus drinks or not. What we do know is that he offers her ‘living water’, water that gives life. Drinking water is essential for human beings, but when you only drink the water you can see, touch and feel, it will never satisfy you. .

‘Living water’ in Hebrew means ‘running water’ (Jer. 2: 13), i.e. water from a well that constantly flows down into a river. This water is never stagnant and is constantly regenerated by oxygen, so it preserves its purity. The water that Jesus offers is not magical, it doesn’t have a different chemical formula. It doesn’t focus on a charismatic leader. This water does not spring from human words, it does not depend on a particular place where it can be found – the Western world, Asia, America, Africa or wherever. It is not made holy by some human person. This water flows from Jesus himself, from his Word, from the Holy Spirit that works in us today. When you drink this water, a fountain will spring up inside you. Jesus assures you: ’Whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life (verse 14). There are so many men and women like the Samaritan women at the well, waiting to meet Jesus or to encounter someone who can offer the living water of salvation.

Whoever seeks God nowadays, in the right way...by coming to Jesus, will find Him.

We should listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit asking us: Do you want to build a life of fear or a life of faith? Do you dare to choose the latter?

Jesus took the initiative to come close to the woman at the well. I hope that  you can approach those who have never heard the message of salvation and that God uses you to embrace the refugee, the Muslim, the vulnerable woman, the unaccompanied migrant children scattered all over the world, and bring them into contact with Jesus. Then the same miracle will happen before our eyes; as they drink the water that quenches their thirst: it becomes a fountain of life.

Rosa Barrachina

Thanksgiving

We give thanks for the example we have in Jesus, who came close to all kinds of people.

Thank You, God, that You have come into our lives, that You offered us the water of eternal life that quenched our thirst.

Thank You, Lord, because You enable us to overcome all sorts of prejudice and to approach people in order to tell them about You.

Confession

We ask forgiveness for the times when we did not share the living water that You have given to us.

We confess the times when we have discriminated against certain people, and not approached them.

Requests

May we become like that tree described by the psalmist, that is planted by streams of living water and yields fruit.

We request that You help us treat people in an impartial way, and to make known the Gospel to people of all languages, tribes and nations.