The race is not won by the victor who crosses the finish line first, but by all when the last competitor crosses the line. The goal is not individual glory but communal victory. So, it is with life. The goal is that all of God’s children . . . all of God’s creation finish the journey in such a way that sustain God’s desire of the best for all. In other works, God wants the best for everyone as God created each and everyone. With God it is a “one for all and all for one” mentality . . . and this is what Jesus preached, taught, and demonstrated.
As it was then it is still today.
We do not live in a world that has a “one for all and all for one” mentality . . . a mentality that strives to ensure that everyone finishes the race and finishes it well. We live in a divisive time in which we are divided by a myriad of reasons . . . you name it and I am certain that there will be more than one opinion of what is right/wrong . . . acceptable/unacceptable. Sadly, throughout history, this has never changed. It was even prevalent in Jesus’ time.
We witness it this morning in our scripture reading. Here is a familiar story that we have all heard . . . the woman at the well. The story begins with Jesus traveling but unlike the other Jews of his time, he travels through Samaria. Because of the division and hatred of the Jews against Samaria, most if not all Jews, traveled around Samaria. Here is Jesus going smack dab through the middle of Samaria!
What is the issue, you ask?
Actually, at least in my estimation, it seems to be a pretty trivial matter as it comes down to differences of interpretation and opinion. By Jesus’ time the Samaritans had been around for over 700 years. They are born out of the same Jewish roots as the Israelites, but have a different experience of God. Because of this different experience their faith is slightly different than the Israelites. Both believe in God. Their religious writings differ whereas the Jews believe in the whole of their writings, the Samaritans only accept a portion of them. Where the Jews believe the dwelling place of God is on Mount Zion, the Samaritans believe it is elsewhere. They believe in the same God, but they don’t quite see things the same way.
As we all know, those who hold the power . . . those who are the most numerous . . . are the ones who are in control. They are the ones who call the shots. That goes to the Jews. As far as Jews were concerned the Samaritans were to be ignored . . . eliminated if possible . . . and thus despised.
And here is Jesus traipsing through Samaria. Coming to a town called Sychar . . . he is tired, he is hungry. He stops at a well and then sends his disciples to the town to find something to eat. As he is resting at the well a woman comes to the well to fetch some water. He asks her for a drink. This surprises the woman . . . obviously Jesus is a Jew, and he is speaking to the woman who is obviously a Samaritan. Every rule and taboo is being broken in this encounter and the woman knows it. She is surprised and argues that point with Jesus. But he insists.
What then takes place is a conversation in which Jesus tears down all the walls that separate and invites the woman into the family of God. First of all, she is a woman . . . basically a second or even third-class citizen in the time of Jesus. Secondly, she is a Samaritan . . . dreaded and hated by the Jews—the controlling religious party in this story. And, thirdly, she is a woman with quite a sordid past. Obviously, in the woman’s mind and in society in general, she embodies everything that would exclude her from the family of God.
But Jesus insists.
The woman’s response?
“Someone like me.”
To which Jesus tells her: “. . . a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Basically, Jesus is telling her, “Yeah, you. Everyone is invited to the party!”
I think that this is a powerful story. As I have read it over the years, I think that it gets even more powerful. Here is Jesus inviting a person who is obviously excluded from God’s family to come and join the party. This person, this woman, knows all the strikes against her . . . female, Samaritan, and quite broken . . . and she can’t believe what she is hearing. As far as she is concerned, she is not worthy enough . . . not good enough . . . to join in the party and take her place in the family of God. She knows her place and it is obviously not the same place Jesus is inviting her to.
Yet, Jesus is convincing and assures her that she, too, has a place at the table of God . . . that she is a child of God . . . that she is one of God’s own. All are invited, assures Jesus, even one like you.
Earlier I stated that the dynamics that are taking place in this story have not changed. Stated that we live in divisive times . . . times in which there is much division and separation. Times that pit “us” against “them”. And, I also stated that this divisiveness and division arise out of many different issues. Think about all the issues that divide . . . one’s fiscal status, politics, religious views, power and control, race and gender, age, ability, disability, and the list could go on and on. Not much has changed since the time of Jesus. The followers of Jesus are still fighting the same old fights.
Physically, psychologically, and spiritually the greatest and most powerful essence of existence is to be acknowledged and to belong. To be counted among those who are loved and respected. To be accepted. When this takes place people are healthier . . . life is better . . . the world is a nicer place to live. When this does not take place . . . well, look around the world we live in. It is a mess.
Here the woman questions her place is such a world that Jesus describes. Jesus assures her that her presence is not only wanted but that it is desired. God wants her to take her place in the family. God desires her. Loves her. She, like all of us, is a child of God despite everything that she and the rest of the world view as barriers to inclusion. The woman is thinking, “Geez, God would want someone like me!”
That is powerful stuff.
Even the writer tells us that it is powerful stuff. As the woman returns to the town she shares her encounter with Jesus with others. Soon many of the Samaritans flocked to Jesus to listen and to take their place in the family of God. The writer of the Gospel of John tells us: And because of his words many more became believers.
This story is powerful because we can identify with the woman who comes to the well. We know of her loneliness of being kept out . . . of being excluded . . . of being kept on the outside always looking in. We know what it feels like to be ignored . . . to be ostracized . . . to be deemed unworthy of belonging. We have all experienced and felt this in our lives.
I also believe that we are like the woman because we hear this invitation from Jesus to come and take our places in the family of God . . . but it sounds too good. And, like the woman we believe that we are not good enough because that is all we have heard our whole lives. Jesus’ invitation is too good to believe . . . yet it is true. God wants us, desires us, longs for us . . . to come into the family and take our place at the table. To come as God created us . . . perfectly imperfect children longing to be acknowledged, valued, and accepted just as we are.
That is powerful stuff. As we delve further down the Lenten road examining ourselves and our faith, we will come to those moments when we feel inadequate for such an invitation. An invitation to take our place at God’s table. And then we need to remember this story . . . to remember the impact of being acknowledged, accepted, and embraced for the child of God that we are. In the difficulty of the journey of Lent . . . in the difficulty of life’s journey . . . it is good to know, that like the woman at the well, we are good enough, loved enough, and desired enough to take our rightful place in God’s family. No matter who we are, we are all loved by God. It is not our will, but God’s will.
Together we will win . . . all of us. Amen.
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