John skilfully imparts some of the most profound teachings of Jesus through two very different people. The Pharisee Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, was a learned, wealthy and well-respected man (John 3:1-22). The woman at the well in today’s gospel was a Samaritan, despised by the Jews. She may also have been ostracised by her own people, since she came to the well alone, at midday, instead of gathering with other women to draw water and perhaps have a chat. The fact that she had five husbands does not necessarily make her a sinner, although now she was living outside the bounds of marriage. It is possible that she had to marry successive brothers, according to Levitical law, if she had failed to bear children. She might also have been divorced by the husbands, which would have been easy for them but impossible for her. Whatever her situation, Jesus accepted her as she was, as he had accepted Nicodemus.
Jesus was flouting the conventions of his society by not only talking to a woman but also one who was a Samaritan. His disciples were taken aback about what was happening. He gently led the woman from basic questions about how he could get water without a bucket, to a deep awareness of who he was and a call to apostleship. It is interesting to see that, while Nicodemus the Pharisee had a long journey to go before he was able to profess his belief when he brought spices to anoint Jesus at his burial (John 19:39-40), the woman of Samaria seemed to have moved quickly in her understanding of Jesus’ message and her willingness to share it with her people.
God works through chance encounters like the one recounted today. May we be given the grace to recognise them and respond accordingly.