killing me softly with his song

John 4:5-42 is the lectionary text for next Sunday

First it was Roberta Flack, then the Fugees.  For our little home church group in Atlanta, it was the hymn of the day when we explored Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well.  While my wife and I were thinking Roberta, our younger worshipers only knew this from the Fugees.  We all identified with her.

The Samaritan woman was alone at the well with a Rabbi.  She was there alone, perhaps because she was marginalized by others in the community.  Jesus was there alone, tired.  This went against social mores for both religiously regulated cultures.

Jesus demanded, claiming superiority.  She teased, siting his lack of the necessary equipment and reliance on her.  Jesus promised something greater than mere water, even water from Jacob's well.  She bit.

Then Jesus pried.  Jesus established that He knew her situation.  Note that Jesus simply stated the facts, without judgment and for the purpose of opening her mind and heart to His message to her.  She shared what she knew their differences.  Jesus stated their common ground - worship in Spirit and in truth, eliminating any differences, whether faith-based or of gender.

She shared her faith in Messiah.  Jesus revealed Himself as Messiah.

It is interesting that the disciples were not so open to an encounter with her, or to Jesus having one with her.  (Embedded social and theological norms run deep.)

As Jesus was giving His disciples a lesson on sowing and reaping, and how the season is here for harvest, the woman was evangelizing in the town with Samaritans.  Many believed a woman's witness and believed in Jesus, and many others came to encounter Jesus and asked Him to stay with them.  They then dismissed her witness, because they themselves had encountered Jesus.

1. Misogyny and religious intolerance ran deep.
2. Those who followed Jesus did not get what Jesus' example was meant to teach them.
3. Jesus included the disenfranchised and marginalized.
4. Those included by Jesus, having encountered Him, brought people to the faith.
5. Misogyny and religious intolerance still run deep.

We do not always value those who God values.
This is a consistent lesson offered by the Jesus of the Gospels, and one that we are still seemingly slow to learn.
Jesus reached across to bridge divides, and touched hearts, minds and lives.  We often, even or
especially in the name of Jesus, create divides and build walls.
If we could learn the value of others beyond superficial differences like gender, faith practice or heritage, race, culture and social standing, we might encounter one another in Spirit and truth and worship together on that level.
If we could learn to bridge the divides, we could live together and grow together in love.
Shalom for all is built when it is valued for all.

Shalom is lived by all, or by none.  If we want the completeness, wholeness and well-being for ourselves, we must also value that for others who are different from ourselves.

Pastor Jamie