ACC ~ John 4 v28

THE WOMAN LEAVES CARRYING OTHER WATER

ROMANUS MELODUS:

But when the Merciful One was near the spring,…

Then the woman of Samaria, coming from her native village, Sichar, arrived, and she had her urn on her shoulders;

And who would not call blessed the arrival and departure of this woman?

For she departed in filth; she entered into the figure of the church as blameless;

She departed, and she drew out life like a sponge.

She departed bearing water; she became a bearer of God;

And who does not bless

This woman; or rather who does not revere her, the type of the nations

As she brings

Exceeding great joy and redemption?

KONTAKION ON THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA 9.5.[1]

BEFORE YOU PREACH, LEAVE YOUR WATER JAR

AUGUSTINE: Having heard, “I that speak with you am he,” and having received Christ the Lord into her heart, what could she do now but leave her water jar and run to preach the gospel? She cast out lust and hurried to proclaim the truth. Let those who would preach the gospel learn: let them throw away their water jar at the well. You remember what I said before of the water jar. [1] It was a vessel with which the water was drawn, called hydria, from its Greek name, because water is hydor in Greek; just as if it were called aquarium, from the Latin. She threw away her water jar then, which was no longer of use but a burden to her, such was her eagerness to be satisfied with that water. Throwing her burden away to make Christ known, “she ran to the city and says to those men, ‘Come, and see a man who told me everything I ever did.’” TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 15.30. [2]

[1] See Augustine’s comment on Jn 4:13 for the symbolism of the water jar.

[2] NPNF 1 7:106*.

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN AN APOSTLE

ORIGEN: He also uses the woman as an apostle, as it were, to those in the city. His words to her are so forceful that she leaves her water jar to go to the city and tells them to her fellow townspeople…. I think there was a definite purpose why the Evangelist recorded that the woman left her water jar and went into the city. At the literal level, then, this shows the tremendous eagerness of the Samaritan woman, who forsakes her water jar and is more concerned for how she may benefit the multitude than for her more humble duty related to material things. For she was very benevolently moved and wished to announce the Christ to her fellow citizens by bearing witness to the one who told her “all I ever did.” And she invites them to behold a man whose speech is greater than man, for his appearance to the eye was human. So must we, too, therefore, forgetting things that are more material in nature and leaving them behind, be eager to impart to others the benefit of which we have been partakers. For by recording the woman’s commendation for those capable of reading with understanding, the Evangelist challenges us to this goal. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 13.169, 173-74. [1]

[1] FC 89:104-5**; SC 222:126-30.

[1]KRBM 1:89.