Throughout history, women have played a vital role in spreading the word of God. From the earliest days of the Christian faith to the present, women have been messengers, bearers of truth, and powerful voices of proclamation. Two figures, in particular, stand out in the Gospel narrative as embodiments of this sacred calling: the Samaritan woman at the well and Mary, the mother of Jesus—the Word made flesh.
The Samaritan Woman: A Messenger of Truth
In John 4, we encounter the woman at the well, a seemingly unlikely figure to be the bearer of good news. This woman meets Jesus in a moment that would forever change her life. In their conversation, Jesus reveals his identity as the Messiah, offering her living water—an image of spiritual fulfillment that transcends physical thirst.
After her encounter with Jesus, the woman, who had come to the well in isolation and shame, is transformed into a bold evangelist. She leaves her water jar behind, a symbol of her past life, and rushes back to her community. “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” she proclaims (John 4:29). Her testimony brings many Samaritans to faith, and the villagers say to her, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves” (John 4:42).
What stands out in this narrative is not only the woman’s transformation but also her role as an evangelist. Jesus, by engaging her in conversation and revealing his true nature, breaks cultural norms and affirms her worth and voice. In a society where women were often disregarded, this unnamed woman becomes the first to announce the arrival of the Messiah to her community—a pivotal moment in the Gospel story. She exemplifies how women, regardless of their past, can be powerful instruments for spreading the word of God.
Mary: The Mother of the Word
Mary’s role in spreading the word of God is foundational, eternal, and deeply intimate. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the one who physically bore the Word of God into the world. In the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel calls Mary “highly favored,” and she responds with a resounding “yes,” giving her consent to become the vessel through which the Savior would enter the world (Luke 1:26-38). Through her yes, Mary embodies the profound mystery of God’s Word taking flesh, becoming not just a bearer of Jesus, but a co-participant in God’s redemptive plan.
In John 2, at the wedding at Cana, it is Mary who first points to the need for Jesus to perform a miracle when the wine runs out. “Do whatever he tells you,” she instructs the servants, showing both faith in Jesus’ power and a desire to bring others into the fold of God’s mercy (John 2:5). Her quiet but firm faith leads others to encounter the miracle, a powerful example of how Mary continuously pointed to her Son and, in doing so, spread the Word of God.
Mary’s role is not just one of physical motherhood but of spiritual motherhood as well. Her “yes” to God opened the door for the Word to become flesh, and in doing so, she becomes the model for all those who are called to carry Christ within them—whether by faith or by action. As the mother of the Word, Mary exemplifies how every believer is invited to bear Christ’s message in the world.
The Role of Women in Spreading the Word Today
The examples of the Samaritan woman and Mary demonstrate the power and importance of women as carriers of the Word of God. Whether through bold testimony or quiet witness, women have always been at the forefront of sharing the message of salvation. Today, women continue to fulfill this role, whether in the pulpit, in their communities, or in the everyday interactions that shape the world around them.
Women, like the Samaritan woman, may sometimes feel marginalized or overlooked, but God’s calling to them is clear: they are called to be vessels of His Word. Like Mary, they are invited to carry Christ’s message not just in their hearts, but to share it with others, transforming lives and bringing hope to a broken world.
In reflecting on these two powerful figures, we are reminded that women have always been integral to the spread of the Gospel. Whether through a simple conversation at a well or through the divine mystery of motherhood, women bear witness to the Word of God and invite others to encounter the love of Christ.
As women, we are called to embrace our role as messengers—women who spread the word of God, sharing the life-changing message of the Gospel wherever we go. May we, like the Samaritan woman and Mary, be faithful to the call, and may we be empowered to proclaim the Word of life to all those we meet.