The Samaritan woman came to Jacob's well at about noon after all the other villagers had come to use the well (see Jn 4:6). She was probably trying to avoid meeting people who despised her. She may have even despised herself and wanted in her self-hatred not to be seen in public.

However, Jesus was already at the well — waiting all by Himself to give amazing revelations to this most unlikely candidate. He spoke to her of God's gift of living water (Jn 4:10), becoming in her "a fountain...leaping up to provide eternal life" (Jn 4:14). After beginning to reveal to her the Holy Spirit and Baptism, Jesus told her that He is the Messiah (Jn 4:26). The Samaritan woman then became an effective missionary, as she led many of her fellow villagers to faith in Jesus (Jn 4:39). Jesus, in His mercy, chose this despised woman to receive some of the greatest revelations ever given. Jesus made her His witness and graced her missionary work with power. God "chose the world's lowborn and despised, those who count for nothing" (1 Cor 1:28).

If your life is such that hardly anyone respects you, if you have ruined your life, you can still have "a future full of hope" (Jer 29:11), for Jesus is "rich in mercy" (Eph 2:4). Lord Jesus, have mercy on us.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Giles H. Pater, August 18 8, 2004

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 23, 2004