Introduction
When a woman thirsty for love meets Jesus at a well, she is surprised to find that he knows her for exactly who she is. And yet, he still invites her to quench her thirsts with ‘living water’ and to worship God ‘in spirit and truth’. In return, her growing understanding and excitement about who he is spills over into a testimony that draws her people then, and us now, to meet with Jesus and share this life-giving gift.
Context
Deep division and discord seem to be characterising European politics more than ever this year, with the past week seeing the Article 50 Brexit vote in the UK, quickly followed by calls for a second Scottish referendum; a breakdown of relations between Turkey and the Netherlands – and perhaps the wider EU; and angry campaigning in both the Dutch election on Wednesday and the coming French elections witnessing to the growth of a far-right populism, feeding on prejudice and distrust.
In contrast, on Monday the Queen celebrated Commonwealth Day at a multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey, together with representatives from the 52 member countries of the Commonwealth. In her message, she called for people across the world to ‘overcome division and find reconciliation’.
Among the Commonwealth countries is Kenya, in East Africa, where president Uhuru Kenyatta has declared the ongoing drought a national disaster. The country’s Red Cross says 2.7 million people there are facing starvation. The DEC launched an emergency appeal on Wednesday for the crisis in East Africa, to raise support for those affected by the droughts in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and war-ravaged South Sudan.
Reflection
Healing the divide
Division and distrust such as that which threatens to drive the Turkish and Dutch peoples – and others – ever further apart is nothing new. In the Gospel passage we are reminded how the Samaritans and the Jews were so divided that they ‘do not share things in common’ (John 4.9), not even a water jar at a well. Separation leads eventually to ignorance, ignorance to prejudice, and that to even less chance of future connection.
So, even leaving aside the suggestion of most commentators that the woman’s lifestyle has also set her apart from her own people, it is understandable that she is surprised when Jesus connects with her, asking to borrow her jar so he can drink. When the disciples return from town, they aren’t just surprised, they are ‘astonished’ at what they see (John 4.27)! Jesus has broken with prejudice and taboo and they find him, a teacher, talking with an unknown woman. And not just politely passing the time of day, but talking about the deepest matters of faith and God’s promises.
God’s kingdom is one where normal expectations are overturned and the most deep-seated divisions can be healed. In the kingdom of God, the suffering that comes from separation, and from sin, can lead instead – if we accept the gift we are offered – to endurance, character, and a hope that will not be disappointed, as God’s love is ‘poured into our hearts’ (Romans 5.3-5).
Known and loved
The woman’s complicated relationship history hints at a life of longing to be truly known and loved. In her conversation with Jesus she starts off defensively, reminding him that someone like him won’t normally share with someone like her. Perhaps she has learned, as some do, to protect herself from verbal abuse with her own quick tongue, getting in there first to minimise the harm.
But instead Jesus meets her with – to borrow some words from the Queen’s Commonwealth message – ‘respect and understanding’.
As he persists, she grows bolder, deflecting him a little at first, with humour and equivocation, but increasingly drawn in by his promise of a new way of living. Once he reveals to her the secrets of her heart she greets him as a prophet and questions him about the way to connect with God. Jesus replies and ultimately shares with her an invitation to ‘worship in spirit and truth’ (John 4.24). More than that, he shares the truth of who he is: Messiah, the ‘gift of God’ (John 4.26,10).
At this, her excitement cannot be contained, and she rushes off – abandoning even her water jar in her haste to share the good news with others. The power of her enthusiastic testimony, of being known and transformed by love, draws many others to Jesus, then, as now.
Water of life
In our communities many, like the Samaritan woman, may be suffering a drought of love and connection, longing for us to share with them God’s understanding and love. Meanwhile many others in our world, especially across East Africa, are suffering from literal drought and its consequences.
Just as the woman’s excitement in God’s love spilled out to others, so may God help those of us who are blessed in material things to pour out from the gifts we have to those who have not, and especially to those who have desperate need for the most basic things in life: food, and water. Giving to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal is just one of several ways in we might choose to offer support. And even if we do not have money to spare, we can pray.
Prayer
A prayer of thanksgiving
Loving God,
I come into your presence with thanksgiving,
for I know that I am known and loved by you!
You fill me with living water so that I need never be thirsty;
you feed me and strengthen me with the will to do your work;
you put right all the wrongs I have done,
even dying for my sins.
Here, in your grace, I stand.
My hope in you will not be disappointed!
Amen.
A prayer for times when God’s gift seems hard to find
Sometimes we can go through tough times in our lives, times that can feel like a spiritual drought. The poem ‘Thou art indeed just, Lord’ by Gerard Manley Hopkins speaks from such a place and can be used as a prayer for God’s help. It ends with the plea: ‘O thou lord of life, send my roots rain.’
Questions
The story of the Samaritan woman at the well has been painted many times. Some of the older depictions can be easily found online. Which of the images – if any – best captures the story for you? The yearning curiosity of the woman’s gaze in the Kauffmann? Or perhaps that rather direct, almost impudent look that van Kalkar’s Samaritan throws Jesus as she fills her water jar suggests to you her quick wit – and initial wariness. Think now about meeting with Jesus yourself: what point in the woman’s story do you most relate to? Are you still wanting to test and ask questions, to find out more? Or are you already running to tell others?
What are you thirsting for? And where have you been trying to quench that thirst? Bring it all before God in the confidence that you are known and loved.
Action
If you have a garden, or a house plant, then each time you water it throughout this week, take a few moments to pray for the places where living water is needed today: from East Africa’s literal need for water to end drought, and aid to relieve its consequences, to the spiritual and emotional drought that may be facing people we know or who live in our own communities. If you don’t even have a house plant, spare a moment in the shower or bath each day instead!
East Africa appeal: More information about the crisis in East Africa and links to donate can be found on the websites of DEC partners including CAFOD, Tearfund and Christian Aid.
Living water is clean water, but many people round the world don’t have access to proper drinking water and sanitation. If you would like to support a longer-term cause rather than an emergency appeal there are many charities and organisations that focus on water, at both ends of its use-cycle, such as Water Aid and Toilet Twinning.
Young people
The Commonwealth Youth Awards this Wednesday, 15 March, formed part of the Commonwealth celebrations. The awards go to young people aged 15-29 who have done significant work to benefit their communities in line with the Commonwealth’s priorities. You can read about some of the finalists online, including Ukhengching Marma from Bangladesh who was shortlisted in the ‘Clean Water and Sanitation’ category for her work campaigning for menstruation hygiene and reproductive health and rights for young women.
While the young people on the shortlist may not share our faith, they do all share the desire to show love for others, meeting their deepest needs, and as such can be an inspiration to us as we seek to demonstrate God’s love. Youth isn’t a barrier to being able to start changing the world for the better!
- Which of the finalists do you find most inspiring?
- Do you know of anyone your own age who has helped make a change for the better, whether big or small?
- How might you start to make a change?
Rebecca Froley, part of the ROOTS team many years ago, works in product development and analytics in digital business information services. Her new toilet and bathroom is twinned through Tearfund’s Toilet Twinning.
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