The nameless woman at the well in chapter 4 of John’s Gospel has captivated the attention of many through the centuries. She is one of few women in the gospels whose process of conversion has become a model for all Christian disciples. It is a conversion not based on the testimony of others but on the nitty-gritty personal engagement Jesus had directly with her. Whether she fully understood Jesus’ message is less the point than that she ran back to the town and brought others to him to see and hear for themselves.
In our monastery parlor hangs a framed petit point embroidery depicting the biblical scene of the woman at the well. It was completed in 1875 by Louisa Haas (later Mother Ottilia, first prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, AL) while she was a student at the academy run by the Benedictine Sisters in Covington, KY. For a woman so young, Louisa’s skill at such a fine piece of embroidery is exceptional. The woman standing at the well with her jar at her feet has her arms resting on the well’s bucket. Her facial expression shows that she is fully engaged in the conversation. Jesus is equally engaged but in a seated position. He is in mid-gesture of teaching or explaining. One gets the impression that this is a strong woman, an intelligent woman. She does not look meek and demure like so many depictions of Mary of Nazareth and Mary of Bethany. She looks straight into the eyes of Jesus as he looks into hers. It is a brilliant scene of fine artistry.
This image offers much upon which to reflect. How much time do I spend in direct conversation with Jesus? Do I listen as he addresses my many questions and concerns? Am I fully engaged and focused in prayer, or has prayer become a rote recitation of memorized words? To what degree am I open to being challenged by Jesus’ words? How can I demonstrate a greater desire for the “living water” offered by Jesus instead being preoccupied by temporal things? In what ways have I misinterpreted Jesus’ words to me throughout my life because of my own lack of understanding or prejudiced thinking? In what ways am I being invited to transcend the cultural mindset formed in me by grasping hold of Jesus’ barrier-breaking message of Divine Love?
By Sister Therese Haydel, OSB