24th February - Lent 3:
Samaritan Woman: The inclusivity of Jesus

They told me not to do it. They told me that we were taking a risk coming this way, coming through Samaria. They told me that the people were outcasts. They were undesirables. We were to have nothing to do with them. Not that they understood what I had to do.

They told me not to stop. We had to get through the region as fast as possible. That way we’d minimize our contact with the people. That way we’d preserve our purity – keep ourselves to ourselves. That’s why we were travelling in the heat of the day. That’s why I got thirsty. That’s why I stopped to get a drink. They didn’t understand that either.

They told me not to talk to her. They said that we knew nothing about her. Not only was she one of ‘them’ – a Samaritan – she was at the well at totally the wrong time. No one fetches water in the heat of the day. She was obviously avoiding even her own people. Anyone could understand that, they said. They didn’t understand that I knew everything about her already. Neither did she.

When I asked her for water she was aghast. She was almost afraid to let me touch the drinking cup. She didn’t want me to pollute myself with any contact with her at all. She was aware of the situation and wanted to exercise compassion towards me. That’s why I was able to talk with her. That’s why I was able to offer her compassion of my own.

When I told her about the living water that I could offer her, she didn’t understand. I felt she thought the sun must have addled my mind. She put it all down to the ravings of a sun stroked idiot. That’s why she mentioned her husband. I think she did that to warn me off. To let me know there was someone looking after her.

But that opened the door. That let me tell her I wanted to look after her as well. That enabled me to tell her all that I knew about her and her situation. And that left her amazed. It blew her mind and she really wanted what I had to offer. More importantly she knew that she had to bring others to taste that same living water.

My companions didn’t understand that. They couldn’t grasp the idea that the message wasn’t just for them, the select few, or for our people, the chosen race. They want me to be exclusive. They wanted me to keep myself just for them. They told me not to do it – not to waste my time with the outcasts of this world. But that’s not going to happen.

What I bring is for all people, whatever their circumstance, whatever their race, whatever their position or standing in society. I hope that the meeting by the well in Samaria with that woman has started to show them that. After all, she understood even if they didn’t.

Now, where do I go from here?

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