THE SAMARITAN WOMAN’S FAITH

(May 14, Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)

“The Samaritan Woman came to the well in/by faith; she saw You, the Water of Wisdom, and drank abundantly she inherited the Kingdom on High and is ever glorified!” (Kontakion, Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)

How is it that the Samaritan Woman came to the well “in faith” or “by faith” (πίστει / верою)? Did it take faith to perform a vital, daily chore, like coming out to this well in the middle of the day to draw water? Not necessarily. But the author of this hymn is saying that she already had faith, even *before* she encountered the One in Whom she believed. As she said to Christ: “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” (Jn 4:25) In response to her faith, our Lord reveals to her that He is the Messiah, before He revealed this to anyone else: “I who speak to you am He.” She is able to recognize and “see” Him for Who He is, and to “drink abundantly” from the Water of Wisdom, because her eyes and ears were open, by faith. She had faith, which in the words of the author of Hebrews is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebr 11:1)

This morning I’m inspired by her also to have faith and hope, as I go about my daily chores and responsibilities, so that I am ready to recognize Christ in our midst, and to “drink abundantly” of the Water of Wisdom that He offers us in our various blessings and challenges. “Lord, give me this water, that I may not thirst!”