The Samaritan Woman - unnamed by Scripture, but called Saint Photina by the Orthodox - is a beautiful model of radical and authentic discipleship. Broken and bruised by unjust tradition and theological misunderstandings, we meet her at the beginning of the Gospel story at a particularly low point: alone at the local well, all by herself, without the support of her own community. At the end of the story, however, after her interaction with Jesus, she follows the pattern of all the apostles who came before her: she drops everything and proclaims that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. And many are brought into the household of God because of her witness.

The Orthodox regard the Samaritan Woman - Saint Photina - as a martyr. As is often the case, Tradition picks up where Scripture leaves off. Saint Photina continues her apostolic work of preaching Jesus the Christ. She makes it, along with her children and siblings (all of whom would precede Photina as martyrs), as far as Carthage before returning to Rome to struggle alongside those being persecuted by the Emperor Nero, who was particularly sadistic in his hatred for Christians (perhaps because his own daughter was converted to Christianity at Saint Photina's hands.) After unspeakable torture, Saint Photina is asked to renounce Christ and offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. Ever feisty and resting in Christ the living water, Saint Photina spits in the face of the emperor, who then orders that she be thrown down a well. As she did in the Gospel, she does now: finds new life alone at the well.  

What do I take from today's Gospel? The importance of being named, which is always the first step toward being known. Jesus knows the Samaritan Woman- knows her history, knows the wrongs done to her, knows that she is triply marginalized (Preachers of all sort are quick to point out the woman's adultery - five husbands and another on the side - but never seem to remember that marriage for ancients was never in the hands of women) - and he names her. And, in naming her, she is able to name him: Jesus of Nazareth the Christ. The anointed One promised to both her people and his, the one who will be worshiped on the mountain and in the temple, worshiped in spirit and in truth.

This is the Lenten invitation: to be named and known. As people who sin, yes, but more importantly as people who are forgiven by the radical, inclusive, abundant love of Jesus. 

Holy Photina, Martyr and Apostle, pray for us.