“The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,”
'Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?' — the woman's testimony is indirect, invitational rather than declarative. The phrase told me everything I ever did (panta hosa epoiesa) refers to Jesus' knowledge of her history and condition. She poses the question: Could this be the Messiah? This invites others to meet Jesus and decide.
Church Fathers on John 4:28
And upon this came His disciples, and marveled that He talked with the woman. They marveled at the exceeding kindness and humility of Christ, in condescending to converse with a poor woman, and a Samaritan.
He who came to seek that which was lost, sought the lost one. This was what they marveled at: they marveled at His goodness; they did not suspect evil.
The woman is almost turned into an Apostle. So forcible are His words, that she leaves her waterpot to go to the city, and tell her townsmen of them. The woman then left her waterpot, i.e. gave up low bodily cares, for the sake of benefiting others. Let us do the same. Let us leave off caring for things of the body, and impart to others of our own.
Read all 13 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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