The Third Sunday in Lent (Year A), Feb. 24, 2008
BCP: Exod. 17:1-7; Psalm 95 or 95:6-11; Rom. 5:1-11; John 4:5-26 (27-38) 39-42
RCL: Exod. 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Rom. 5:1-11; John 4:5-42
For stories that carry a person’s encounter with Jesus Christ, the woman at the well gets full billing. All the necessary details are contained in this compressed narrative. John presents a true conversion. When we are in a similar conversation with an inquirer, we know what to expect, where to go.
First there is the water—just plain water. She was thirsty and weary with lugging the jar daily. He offered her water. She understood the offer but misunderstood the promise. That’s OK, though, since he piqued her interest, showed concern for her life, and seemed to know what she needed. The conversation had begun. A good first step.
How wise, how loving, for us to begin by relating to our friend, by introducing a topic that immediately gains interest, which is also a channel that takes us deeper. Then came the misconceptions. “Can you really give endless water? How does water live? Besides, you don’t even have a bucket.”
This stage always takes some teasing out and patience. Most of our friends live within a worldview from a kingdom far, far away. They don’t comprehend miracles, divine love, a holy God, much less human sin. Human frailty, yes; sin, no.
Mistaken preconceptions follow right behind. “You all worship in Jerusalem. That’s wrong. This mountain — this is the place where you meet God.”
At least there are areas of overlap, ever so small. Prophets and worship were familiar territory, but the underlying assumptions! And the directions these pointed to! We must plow in, though, and meet whatever is there, stay until clarity, and pray for revelation.
Love perseveres.
The conversation goes right to sin, not around it. “Go call your husband.” “Not your husband? Not even your fifth? A current live-in.” How embarrassing — unless we can speak of the love of God that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In that atmosphere, repentance and confession rise to the surface. There, in waters calm and benign, forgiveness and assurance are within reach.
The final chapter returns to the beginning. We can hear the joy in her voice, we can see the change in her demeanor, because she has told her family and friends whom she has found. There is nothing that draws Christ’s love and power closer to us than our telling others.
Look It Up
Check out the rich young ruler, the blind man healed, and other stories like these. Some find faith, others leave.
Think About It
Who is a friend for whom I can prepare for a conversation like this one?
Next Sunday
The Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year A), March 2, 2008
BCP: 1 Sam. 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Eph. 5: (1-7) 8-14; John 9:1-13 (14-27) 28-38
RCL: 1 Sam. 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Eph. 5: 8-14; John 9:1-41
