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We continue to become more and more
like Jesus in all of our encounters. At any given
crossroad we ask ourselves, what would Jesus do in this
situation and then just do it. The conversations we
have with other people, I believe, are important. There
are some people that we naturally gravitate to, and feel
comfortable talking with. Maybe you have had the
experience of meeting a new neighbor and you just hit it
off. It is as if you have known each other for years
and years when you’ve only just met.
As
we seek to live out our faith there are times when we
need to be more intentional about striking up a
conversation with other people. We do so to be nice, to
be gracious, and allow the light of Christ inside of us
to burn brightly. To be honest, sometimes such
conversations do not go well at first. The other person
is suspicious, perhaps thinking that we are trying to
take advantage of them in some way. It might take
awhile to build a relationship, but we keep trying and
do not give up.
As
we continue our Lenten journey Jesus once again models
for us ways to communicate with someone we might not
know. Our gospel lesson is the longest recorded
conversation Jesus had with anyone. It was midday and
it was hot. Jesus sat down by a well to rest when a
woman came to draw water. He might very well have
sensed her hurt. In that day and culture women would
draw water early in the morning before it became too hot
or after the sun went down in the evening. This unnamed
woman was at the well at the hottest time of the day.
She might have been estranged from the other women in
that town. Maybe she just could not face the other
women in that village so she avoided them by going to
the well when no one would be around.
Jesus started the conversation by asking her, “Give me a
drink.” His request startled the woman. Jesus had a
way of breaking down barriers. It was not considered
proper in that culture for a man to address a woman in a
public setting. Jesus showed a respect for all people.
The woman was a Samaritan and there was friction between
the Jews and Samaritans. None of that mattered to
Jesus. He engaged in conversation with her to help
her. She responds with disbelief. Jesus assures her
that it was all right and further that he would give her
“living water.” How could Jesus give her “living water”
when the well was deep and he does not even have a
bucket? She must have wondered
There is a level of misunderstanding between the two, a
favorite ploy in John’s gospel. When Jesus told
Nicodemus that he must be “born from above,” Nicodemus
thinks “born again” and was confused. Jesus offers the
woman “living water” that is to believe in him and she
hears “an unlimited supply of water.” “Sir,” she
replies, “give me this water, so that I may never be
thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”
With such living water the woman thought she would never
have to draw water again.
The conversation becomes personal when Jesus asks her to
go home and return with her husband. She informs Jesus
that she has “no husband” which technically was
correct. Jesus knows better. He sensed her hurt.
While we might be able to hide our hurt from other
people we cannot hide it from Jesus.
The conversation became too
personal and painful. Obviously, she was uncomfortable
continuing so she abruptly changed the subject to
worship. It became too personal, so she changed the
subject to something that could be debated for hours.
Instead of talking about her personal life she wanted
Jesus’ opinion on true worship and where to worship.
Maybe this has happened to you as well, the person we
are speaking with abruptly changes the subject and
begins talking about the weather, “it sure is cold,” or
another favorite is sports, “did you see the game last
night?”
Even a shift in the conversation can be a teachable
moment and Jesus seizes the opportunity. He tells her
about true worship that “God is spirit, and those who
worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” In the
future it will not matter where someone worships but
rather who one worships. She talks about the coming of
the Messiah and Jesus identifies himself as the
Messiah. “I am he.” What is most striking is the ease
of the conversation.
Just then the disciples return, they had gone looking
for food. The disciples were astonished that Jesus was
speaking with this woman. However, they kept their
thoughts to themselves. Sometimes it is just better to
remain silent and the disciples did just that.
There was something about meeting and talking with Jesus
that changed this woman’s life. She went to town
inviting others to come and personally meet Jesus. “Come
and see a man who told me everything I have ever done!”
It no longer mattered to her what people thought about
her. She was not afraid to tell other people about her
encounter with Jesus. “He cannot be the Messiah, can
he?”
The woman did not have a full
understanding but she witnessed to what she knew to be
true at that point. Sometimes we claim that we do not
know enough to witness and share our faith with other
people. As if someone will ask us a question that we do
not know the answer to and we will be embarrassed. So
we are hesitant about talking about our faith, and
witnessing to other people. The woman shared where she
was on her personal faith journey. She did not have all
the answers but spoke about her conversation with
Jesus. People do not need to know all the answers to
all the questions of faith in order to invite someone to
church with them. They do not need to exaggerate or
persuade or say more than is true. The woman shared
what she knew to be true.
The woman was a credible witness; many people came to
meet Jesus as a result. “Many Samaritans from that city
believed in him because of the woman's testimony.” She
led them to Jesus and they believed in him. And Jesus
stayed in that city for two more days. Jesus was so
focused on the conversations he was having that he
forget to eat.
The people came to believe in Jesus because of the
woman’s testimony. The town’s people claim in the last
verse of our lesson, “It is no longer because of what
you said that we believe, for we have heard for
ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of
the world” is amazing. The people believed in Jesus as a
result of meeting him. There in that Samaritan town the
people made the correct identification of Jesus as the
“Savior of the World.”
Who are the people we could reach
if only we made the effort? Who are the people if only
we showed love and acceptance would come to know Jesus?
Bernard describes himself as a man
wandering through life with no grounding in a faith
community. His family stopped attending church when he
was in elementary school. As a young adult he was well
paid in a distasteful profession that has “only negative
impact on the world.” Barnard enjoyed financial
success, but deep down was ashamed of his work. When he
and his girlfriend, Catherine, had a son, the birth
inspired him to seek a “meaningful positive life.” The
couple began looking for a church home in their
community.
How do you think people in most
churches would react to an unmarried couple with a baby,
who benefited financially from an unsavory occupation?
Fortunately the church welcomed them with open arms and
did not judge them harshly. They felt loved in that
congregation and soon began taking the steps of joining
the church.
The church required attending
classes that Barnard and Catherine at first found
intimidating. They continued to feel a sense of shame
but committed themselves to the process. They became
more than members of the church, their lives were
transformed in authentic Christian community. Barnard
says that he found “new perspectives, role models whose
example of faith and Christian life” taught him that
change was possible. They experience the love and mercy
of God, learned the Bible, prayer, and sang new songs of
faith. Bernard and Catherine were married. Bernard
reflects, “if we know God will forgive us, we can begin
to forgive ourselves.” Sensing a call to help others,
Barnard quit his job and found a job where he serves
people. (1)
Barnard changed. The woman at the
well changed. We call that change conversion, a change
of heart. If the only people we are having conversations
with are in church than we are failing Jesus. Jesus
talked with outsiders.
May we continue to follow Jesus’
example and enter into holy conversations with those we
meet.
Amen.
1. Christianity for the Rest of
Us, Diana Butler Bass, HarperSanFrancisco, 2006
pp.219-220
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