In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus initiated a conversation with a Samaritan woman who was drawing water from the well.
Historically, Jewish men did not speak to women in public, much less to women of Samaria since racial hatred and tension between Jews and Samaritans were common in those days (Jews were the “Chosen People” and Samaritans were considered as a “contaminated” or mixed race having intermarried with foreign invaders). It can also be observed from the gospel that she was not only an ordinary Samaritan but one with a disreputable lifestyle, having had five husbands in the past and not even being married to the man she was living with.
Despite the woman’s personal history, Jesus not only initiated a conversation with her but it seemed as though He even sought this woman out. Jews normally avoided contact with their Samaritan neighbors by traveling other, longer routes but it says in John 4:4 that Jesus “had to go through
The gospel offers a challenge for us today to be like Jesus to the Samaritan woman – to reach out to people who are difficult to reach out to.
In our workplaces and in the apostolate, there are people who we have avoided because of their irregular lifestyles or just because they are “different,” “difficult,” “or do not conform to our values.”
Who are these people and how are you going to be like Jesus to them?
The Singles Apostolate’s GK Outreach Program allows us to reach out to those in need. When are you going to set aside time to visit and help them?
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