25 June 2025

Jesus seeks refreshment. He has made a detour into Samaria and arrives at Jacob’s well. A Samaritan woman has come with her water jar to collect water. Jesus is thirsty. ‘I thirst.’ are words spoken not only at the well but on the cross. They reveal Christ’s vulnerable humanity.

His encounter with the woman has a natural origin but it breaks many boundaries – talking to a woman. engaging with a Samaritan, conversing with a woman who has not only had five husbands but is living with one now who is not a husband at all.

This marvellous piece of writing reveals a great deal about ministry. It celebrates the ministry of women. St.  John writes, ‘Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.’ She exercised a brilliant ministry, witnessing effectively to Christ.

But it wasn’t her ministry which was of ultimate significance. In the end, they say to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe …’ Of course not. We are mere instruments of Christ. It is his ministry working through us which is effective.

Our ministry has a definite corporate dimension. ‘One sows and another reaps.’ says Jesus. We each have our part to play. But there’s more. ‘I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured and you have entered into their labour.’

This is important. We benefit from the ministries of those who have gone before us. And others will hopefully benefit from ours. But we may not know what may be harvested from our endeavours. This is our consolation when we become disappointed or discouraged. The harvest belongs to God.

What I like best about this narrative is the excitement which the woman at the well displays. ‘Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city.’ She leaves behind the water for which she had come. I think we need to recover this absentmindedness which allows us to focus on the true nature of our vocation.