Jacob’s well conjures an image of a gathering place for me. Much like a coffee shop, a bar or
even the office coffee machine or water cooler. A place to quench your physical and emotional thirst. Many meaningful discussions between people happen when sharing a meal or a beverage. This is evident in the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.
This meeting differs from one we would experience around the coffee machine or in a bar. There are no other people around, just Jesus and the woman. She has come to the well at a time no others do. It is noon and the hottest time of the day when others keep cool indoors. She has chosen this time to shy away from the local town gossip to protect herself
from ridicule and scorn. The text tells us that this woman has had five husbands. We are not told for sure, but we can assume that she has been the long favourite subject of gossip. If she did go to the well when others did, she was probably met with silence, stares and dirty looks.
We don't know why this Samaritan woman was treated this way. She may have been seen as sinful, but she may also have been a victim of circumstance. Women had zero social standing in those times, and a man could easily divorce his wife. What we do know is that Jesus chose to
talk to her. She mattered to Jesus.
This meeting shows us how Jesus always favours the marginalised and is
unperturbed by those who are popular and seen as having riches. Jesus doesn’t care what she has done or is portrayed as. It doesn’t matter to Jesus that she is not deemed good enough in that village.
Today I invite you to reflect on the conversations you may be a part of at the coffee machine or water cooler. Is your conversation focused on gossip or life-changing issues?
How do you interact and communicate with the marginalised in your community?
Where do you go when you feel not
good enough?
