REPUTATIONS BAD & GOOD
- Phil
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
This woman had a bad reputation. That's why she went to draw water at midday, when no-one else would be around to bad-mouth her.
The Gospel of John (chapter 4) presents us one of the most beautiful and fascinating encounters Jesus has – the one with the Samaritan woman (John 4:5-42). Jesus and his disciples take a break near a well in Samaria. The Disciples leave Jesus at the Well while they go into the nearby town to collect provisions. A woman arrives and Jesus says to her, “Give me a drink”. Jesus, every bit a Jew of his time, does something quite surprising, not least of all does it surprise this "untouchable" woman!
"How is it that you, a Jew, ask me for water to drink, though I am a Samaritan woman? For Jews have nothing to do with Samaritans."
The Samaritans were unkosher foreigners; Jews never used their utensils. The woman was astonished that a Jew should ask her for a drink of water, a thing that Jews would not do, and that Jesus was talking alone to her, a woman!
"Give me a drink" Jesus asks. Give me a drink is a cry often heard, where the frenetic pace, the rush to consume, and especially indifference,far-from satisfies, and brings only interior emptiness.
It doesn't take long for us to realize that this encounter of the woman with Jesus at the well
is baptismal.
As we continue our Lenten journey and reflect on the meaning of our baptism, this account in John's Gospel prompts us to examine our deepest longings. Do we, baptized disciples of Jesus, run after short-term thirst quenchers or do we seek the living water that transforms our ways of seeing things, which alone has the power to satisfy? Just as the Samaritan Woman left her water jar behind to share her news, we might ask what we need to leave behind as we accept the gift of living water. And if we were to run into town to tell our friends about Jesus—as she did—what would we say about him? (Mike McMahon).
HOW'S YOUR LENT GOING? I could do better!
Here's a check-list to benefit me, and perhaps you as well?
It is customary, Lord
to give something up during the season of Lent.
What would you have me do without?
I who have so much.
Chocolate?
Cream cakes?
Alcohol?
Sweets?
Swearing?
The list is endless
and I could give up all those things
for the span of 40 days quite easily
and almost painlessly.
But what difference would it make
other than making me feel 'holier'
than my friend who makes no such sacrifice?
What would you have me do without,
I who have so much?
Selfishness?
Conceit?
Envy?
Pride?
I fear before I ask,that the answer might be 'yes'
and the giving up would be all too real, Lord.
It might be difficult,
painful,
sacrificial;
a real cross to carry for 40 days,and more?
"Faith and Worship"
In the dry wildernesses of our lives,
in the days of heat and thirst,
you offer us living water,
Thank you, gracious and generous God.
When we begin to doubt your presence,
and grumble that your love is unreliable,
you offer us living water,
Thank you, gracious and generous God.
When life’s regrets and the bad choices we have made
leave us feeling excluded and unworthy,
you offer us living water,
Thank you, gracious and generous God.
When circumstances, or the inhumanity of others,
have left us alone and wounded,
you offer us living water,
Thank you, gracious and generous God.
We thank you and praise you, O God,
that how ever we may thirst,
what ever we may need to satisfy our souls,
you offer it freely and abundantly in Christ;
So we drink deep of the living water
and, as we draw from your wells,
we seek to pass the cup to others
who, like us, are thirsty for your grace.
John van de Laar, on his excellent website Sacredise.com.
Thank you Lord