Homilies on the Gospel of John

“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that says to you, Give Me to drink, you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you living water.”

First, He shows that she is worthy to hear and not to be overlooked, and then He reveals Himself. For she, as soon as she had learned who He was, would straightway hearken and attend to Him; which none can say of the Jews, for they, when they had learned, asked nothing of Him, nor did they desire to be informed on any profitable matter, but insulted and drove Him away. But when the woman had heard these words, observe how gently she answers: