For Sunday Lent 3A
Collect
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Reading
Reflection
Jesus intentionally goes into Samaritan territory. He hangs out by a well to talk with this woman. None of this is stuff he is supposed to do. And the threat isn’t only to himself. He is putting the woman at risk, too. This is as important to the story as the woman’s confusion and excitement at what he says. And we can plainly see why. Because the story isn’t about ascribing sin to the woman, but the vehicle of redemption in Jesus.
I love the dialogue between the woman at the well and Jesus. It is one of my favorite stories. But the second half is almost better. It has the disciples arriving with the protective bluster of students wanting to impress their teacher. They see the transgression and don’t know what to do about it. They fall back on care for him in this godforsaken place. He’s got to be hungry! Get him to eat!
Then, in a kind of echo of Job’s trip to Nineveh, we see the people being transformed by prophetic word and God’s invitation. Are the disciples like Job here: disappointed? that they don’t get to condemn the bad guys? That their moral superiority doesn’t get to win the day?
Or shall we also witness the transformative power of God. That it isn’t built on vengeance or violence, but on love. Trust. Sitting with the other person and sharing the good water with them.