the crucified orator 726 a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (Jn 4:9). You may already wish to know, curious mortals, what significance has the reason, for which the Samaritan refused Christ a drink? Listen therefore to the most amiable Abbot of Clairvaux, who ponders this topic in this meditation: “Samaritan means ‘vain spirit,’ [a spirit] which seeks only vanity, pleasure, licentiousness, greed, and all the worldly desires.” Is that not so? Such was the Samaritan woman! Vain, frivolous, licentious, greedy, full of worldly desires! Therefore, who could wonder that she was unwilling to give a sip of cold water to a true Jew, the greatest enemy of such vices? Consider how greatly Jesus was oppressed by thirst when He asked this woman for a drink; with what great longing He desired the salvation of this vain, arrogant, and wild person. Albert the Great teaches that “He desired more the salvation of that soul than to drink water.”86 Indeed, the first cause of His being “tired” was His rather hurried trip to the city; lest the time of her arrival at the well, known to Him from all eternity, might pass by. The Golden Doctor says, “The Lord knew at which hour the others rested and that she was accustomed to walk to get water. Therefore, He came at the sixth hour.”87 Paul of Bourges88 adds, “Lest it may seem that He — who regulates all things — came by chance, He guided her thoughts by a secret impulse so that she would arrive when the Fount of Life — Christ — was there.”89 Since He arrived before her, He awaited the Samaritan woman “as was the custom of those weary,” says Cajetan, “propped against the fount — that is resting His arm on the edge of the well as a support for His head. Thus the weary usually sit.”90 86 Albertus Magnus, Enarrationes in Ioannem, In Evang. Ioannis, cap. IV, 8 op. cit., p. 159. 87 The source of this text was not able to be found. 88 Paul of Bourges († 1435) was a Dominican exegete. 89 The source of this text was not able to be found. 90 Cf. Caietanus, Evangelia cum Commen[tariis] Caietani Rev.mi. D.D. Thome de Vio Caietani Cardinalis s. Xisti:in quattuor Evangelia et Acta Apostolorum
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