C. Michael Dudash, "Living Water." Copyrighted by the artist. Permission requested. The "sixth hour" "It was about noon", "It was about the sixth hour" in John 4:6 means it was about noon and was the way Jews told time back then. Each hour was roughly two hours long, starting from sunrise. The timing might highlight when the woman went to the well, which was unusual as most people went when it was cooler. It could also symbolize a moment in her life when she felt passion and difficulty or suggest that she avoided others, particularly Jews. In Christianity, number six represents human imperfection and sin as God created man on the sixth day in Genesis. Hence, the reference to the sixth hour may imply the woman's sinfulness and need for Jesus' salvation and redemption.
The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is traditionally believed that Matthew, one of the twelve disciples and a former tax collector, wrote this gospel. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus performed many miracles, healing the sick and casting out demons. He also taught the crowds. When Jesus saw that people were troubled and lost, he felt compassion for their suffering. The passage begins with Jesus saying to his disciples, "They were like sheep without a shepherd" and he urged his disciples to pray for these people. This reflects the caring and serving spirit of the Catholic Church. Jesus compared the crowd to lost sheep in need of a shepherd to guide and care for them. The Catholic Church sees itself as the continuation and representative of Jesus, and when it comes to dealing with the suffering and needy, it should play the role of a shepherd, caring for them with love and compassion. Jesus also gave authority to the apostles and se...
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