727 the fifth word Then, someone among the more recent authors91 states that by the word “thus” (Jn 4:6 in the commentary of Cajetan), St. John surely wanted to denote a solicitude full of longing as well as an ardent love that burned the Divine Shepherd in the tireless search for the lost sheep. Next, consider if you would the voice of the One speaking to her, as Toletus says: “It is a voice of supplication, and He who can command the Angels, begs the vain harlot and unfaithful woman (for such was the Samaritan). He is so much concerned with the salvation of people that He urgently begs for something […] which is of highest importance to us all, as well.”92 Finally, becoming aware of her stubbornness and her unawareness of her own good, He says: “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked [H]im and [H]e would have given you living water” (Jn 4:10). Saint Bernardino of Siena, meditating upon these words and recollecting the Canaanite woman, who once endeavored with a nagging and downright importune supplication to coerce the Lord to heal her daughter, said these words: “When the Canaanite woman, burning with love, seeking with solicitude, begging with loud cries, asks for the healing of her daughter, namely, of her soul, Jesus draws back from her, does not speak to her, and scorns her like a dog, and makes an impression as if He is repulsed by her. But here on the contrary, He pursued this Samaritan woman, even when she resisted His inspirations.”93 O blind Samaritan! O creature so vain, frivolous, sensual, dissolute, and burning with concupiscence; filled with the desires of the flesh, of the eyes, of the pride of life, and of the pleasures of this world! Give (for your salvation, I beg you), give drink to your […] Commentarii…, s.l. 1530, f.152v. 91 It is not known which author St. Stanislaus has in mind. 92 Cf. Toletus, Franciscus, Francisci Toleti Doctoris Theologi Cordubensis e Societate Iesu, in Sacrosanctum Ioannis Evangelium Commentarii, Romae 1590, p. 200 (Caput IIII). 93 Cf. Bernardinus Senensis, S. Bernardini Senensis Ordinis Fratrum Minorum Opera Omnia, Sermo XXXI (Feria Sexta post III Dominicam in Quadragesima: De conversione Samaritanae), t. IV, Florentiae 1956, p. 97, vv. 10-14.
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