Biblical Readings (AC 11:9-3, JN 4:5-42)
“In Samaria, Jesus came to a town named Sychar, which was not far from the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus tired out by the trip, sat down by the well. It was about noontime. 7 A Samaritan woman came to draw some water, and Jesus said to her. Will you give me a drink of water? 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food). 9 The Samaritan woman said to Him, you are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans). 10 Jesus answered her. If you knew what God gives and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would ask Him and He would give you life-giving water. 11 Sir, the woman said, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get the living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock? 13 Jesus answered her, whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirsty. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life! 15 Sir, the woman said, give me that water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to come here to draw water!…”
Most celebrated persons: Samaritan woman, in the town of Sychar, and other believers in Christ as Son of God. Sychar town was almost 50 kilometers from Jerusalem on the way to Samaria (70 kilometers). Again, about 60 kilometers from Samaria to Nazareth, the homeland of Christ the Son of Man. All the Sycharians came to Christ, and became Christians, believers, through the testimony of that Samaritan woman.
Both the passages of today prepare us in the methods, how to do the mission work, for extending faith and truth of God’s kingdom towards other people, being led by our Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel passage itself is very interesting. Please, read and study it from time to time. You will discover its mysteries. St John Chrysostom studied and made some commentaries of 80 pages on this passage. He did the work in five lectures xxxi-xxxv. (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. First Series Vol 14). The narration of the passage, in a simple form, is relating to spiritual matters. Each word of the story carries various meanings.
In the Acts passage, we see that, before the persecution, Jerusalem was the center of Christ’s teaching. With the persecutions, Antioch City (800 kilometers North) became one of the many other centers. From Jerusalem believers scattered with the power of the Good News concerning Christ. A faithful Barnabas worked with Saul.
Christ Jesus connects the water and air with the Spirit of God. Jn 3:8; 4:14; 7:37-39. Gn 1:2; 2:6. Although, He does not make them identical. Indeed again, water and air are very close elements to the power of fire and light! Therefore, power is the basis for the Spirit of God, in the metaphysical sense.