Encountering Jesus
Our Gospel reading for this Sunday is the encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman (John 4:5-42). As I reflected more and more on this reading, I was struck by how the people involved did not act as human beings are prone to act.
Scripture scholars have pointed out how unusual it would have been for someone to draw water from a well at noon. Most people would have gone to the well in the morning.
But from the subsequent conversation between Jesus and the woman, we can surmise that she came when no one else would be there, perhaps because she didn’t want to see those disapproving glances and hear those gossipy murmurs from the “good people” in the village.
In initiating a conversation by asking the woman for a drink, Jesus breaks an all-too familiar rule that humans are prone to make. In a footnote from The New American Bible, it states: “Samaritan women were regarded by Jews as ritually impure, and therefore Jews were forbidden to drink from any vessel they had handled.” That is why the woman was surprised to hear Jesus’ request. How easy it is for us to build barriers between ourselves.
And then Jesus begins to talk about the “living water” that comes from Him. As the apostles often did, the woman misunderstands what Jesus is saying. Eventually, Jesus says to her, “Go call your husband and come back.” And she replies, “I do not have a husband.” And Jesus replies, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.” When I read this, I couldn’t help but hear Jesus say this in a snarky way. Again, how easy it is for us to use certain knowledge as an excuse to pass judgment or feel superior to others.
But even though Jesus was being honest with her, it must not have come off as condemnatory. Because her response was also not what we might expect. She didn’t get indignant, as most anyone would have done, but instead saw Jesus as a prophet.
One of the challenges about Lent is acknowledging the truth about ourselves and letting go of judging others.
Then Jesus reveals to her that He is the Messiah that both Jews and Samaritans were hoping for.
But the surprises don’t end there. The woman goes back into town, and tells them about Jesus! Even though she may have tried to avoid them before, now she goes to them to tell of her encounter with Christ. Whatever resentment she may have felt about their attitude towards her, she goes to them and brings them Good News! How often do we hold on to resentments that keep us from saying or doing anything positive for others!
But that is not all. The people actually listen to her! Again, when we have decided that others are not worthy of God’s love and therefore are not worthy of ours, we can turn a deaf ear to whatever they have to say. But the people of the village go to Jesus based on the testimony of the woman and listen to Him, and believe.
We do not have to give in to fear of confronting the truth about ourselves. We do not have to abide by the divisions present in society. We do not have to fall into self-righteousness and condemnation of others. Not if we are willing to encounter Jesus and accept God’s love for us.
The world doesn’t need us to fall in line with what passes as usual human behavior. The world needs us to witness to God’s love by sharing Good News and loving each other; by working for justice and making peace. And we can do this by the grace of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In Christ,
Phil, CP
