"You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (John 4:9).

Think of Northern Ireland's 'Orange and Green', Serbs and Croats, Jews and Palestinians; corporations, creeds and clubs organized almost exclusively by men. Even in 'civilized' societies like our own, demographics reveal invisible walls that keep socio-economic groups apart from one another. Jesus ignored all such artificial boundaries. By following his example we diminish much suffering in the world.