Wells

Throughout history, wells have been not only vital sources of water but also focal points of community interaction, akin to modern office water coolers. In regions like Israel during the Old and New Testaments, where access to fresh water was often threatened by enemies, wells played a crucial role in sustaining towns and cities. Wells provided lifelines in arid landscapes, ensuring the survival of communities.

In the Old Testament, wells feature prominently, prompting Origen of Alexandria to discuss them extensively in his Homilies on Genesis. Origen draws parallels between wells and the union of Christ and the Church, highlighting their symbolic significance. It is around wells that the patriarchs often met their wives. Yet, they are also a place where God meets his people. He emphasizes the harmonious relationship between the Old and New Testaments, where wells represent places of encounter with God and union with Christ. Origen's insight underscores the profound theological depth embedded in seemingly mundane aspects of Scripture.

The story of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well exemplifies the transformative power of encountering Christ. Despite the physical thirst, Jesus offers spiritual water that leads to eternal life. As captured in the Gospel of John, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman, "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14, ESV). This encounter leads to belief and testimony among the Samaritans, illustrating how encounters with Christ around wells lead to spiritual awakening and belief in Him.

Origen further underscores the importance of baptism and Scripture as spiritual wells where believers encounter Christ and receive spiritual nourishment.

For Origen, there is a symbolic significance of wells as places of divine vision and encounter with the Living One. In his Homilies on Genesis, he elaborates on this symbolism, emphasizing the transformative power of encountering God through Scripture and sacraments. He looks at passages like Genesis 25:11, "After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived near Beer Lahai Roi." Beer Lahai Roi means "the well of the Living One who sees me", though Origen shortens it to "the well of vision." The well is a place where you can live and be seen by the Living One and where you can see God. He continues to say that if we come to the well of Scripture and are able to perceive a vision of God then, "I shall appear to have spent one day at the 'well of vision' But if I shall have been able to touch not only something according to the letter, but also according to the spirit, I shall appear to have spent two days 'at the well of vision.'" In other words, when we come to the well of Scripture, if we spend even a little time there, God will reveal himself in the most basic understanding of the text. However, if we desire to know more about God and be fed on a spiritual level, then we must spend our time, our life, in the Scriptures.

Just as physical wells sustain life and serve as vital community hubs, spiritual wells of baptism and Scripture are essential for the spiritual sustenance of believers. Baptism unites believers with Christ and the Church, while Scripture provides the classroom for spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of God. Origen's insights remind believers of the profound spiritual significance inherent in the rituals and teachings of the Christian faith.

In essence, the metaphor of wells extends beyond physical water sources to encompass spiritual sustenance and community in the Christian faith. As believers engage with Scripture and participate in sacramental life, they deepen their union with Christ and find fulfillment in the spiritual wellsprings of the faith. Origen's teachings serve as a reminder of the richness and depth of Christian theology, inviting believers to explore the spiritual treasures found in Scripture and sacraments.

Let us, therefore, immerse ourselves in the Word of God and participate in sacramental life to experience the fullness of spiritual nourishment and communion with God. Just as people gather at wells for physical water, we are invited to come to the spiritual wells of the Church, where the Word is proclaimed and the sacraments are administered, to drink deeply and find satisfaction for our spiritual thirst.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. Aaron