Foundry UMC DC: Sunday Sermons
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
Water Wow
A sermon preached by Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli at Foundry UMC March 15, 2020, third Sunday of Lent. “How Can You Believe This?” series.
Text: John 4:5-42
Today we are drawn to a well in the rough, dry, mountainous lands between Judea and Galilee. It is an ancient well, Jacob’s well, and—like all fresh water sources in that region—the well is a source of life. At this strange moment in our common life with the whole world grappling with how to test for, treat, and contain the Novel Covid-19 Corona virus, we are not only in a religious wilderness place—the season of Lent—but also in a wilderness place of increasing isolation and concern for the wellbeing of ourselves and our neighbors, especially the most vulnerable. We are journeying into uncharted territory that is riddled with questions and complications. We may be cut off from some resources that, in other difficult or uncertain situations, would be our “go-to” things or people—church gatherings, sporting events, our local restaurant or pub. Many will be increasingly struggling to make ends meet as gigs and conferences are canceled, hours cut, patrons diminished, shows closed, contracts canceled, and on it goes. Those who already suffer from anxiety and those who daily fight for sobriety may be drawn toward the edge. The avalanche of human struggle and strife that is possible—and some of it already realized—surrounds us as we journey into this new wilderness place.
And let’s take just a moment to acknowledge what has led us place: a microscopic particle—that’s what a virus is. Consider for a moment the fact that a microscopic particle has the capacity to take down all the things we assign so much power to, all the things upon which we with any privilege are tempted to rely: the markets, our own control, the ability to go where we want, when we want, our capacity to buy what we need when we need or want it. This microscopic particle has underscored human hubris in a variety of ways, and is reminding all the world of the truth many live daily: life is fragile and our health and wholeness is never to be taken for granted. The microscopic particle, this virus, doesn’t have any prejudice against the rich and powerful or disenfranchised and impoverished—and so is a great equalizer. The thing that is not equal in our nation and world is access to information and care. That, too, is a truth upon which this outbreak shines a light. It is humbling and disorienting to realize just how much damage can be done by so small a thing. It reminds us of our own smallness and vulnerability.
And today, our spiritual path leads us through the wilderness to this ancient well, a source of sustenance and life.
We’re not the first to travel this way or to need the life that the well provides. In our story today, Jesus—on his journey north from Judea to Galilee—is the first to acknowledge that he needs a drink of water from the well. And in asking for what he needs, Jesus does an astonishing thing: he engages in conversation with a Samaritan woman. These two—a Jewish Rabbi and a Samaritan woman—were part of groups who had been practicing a kind of “social distancing” for a long time. Their distancing was not to guard against harm of neighbor, however, as is our practice today. Their distancing was out of prejudice and even deep hatred. Jews thought that Samaritans were unfaithful because they had—in the time of the Assyrian incursion—worshipped the false gods of the five foreign tribes. You can read the background on this in 2 Kings 17:13-34. It’s pretty clear in the theological histories of Kings and Chronicles that all of God’s people were pretty much equal opportunity idolaters; and the Samaritans had long been guided by Torah and worshiped YHWH. But this religious and racial prejudice was solidified early on and, for ages, Jews and Samaritans avoided each other like the plague.
The need for water, for sustenance, drew these two together. And Jesus, thirsty from his journey, begins by asking the woman for a drink. The woman has what he needs—a bucket—to quench his thirst. In her response to Jesus, the woman focuses on things that normally would divide them, the gender rules, the cultural and purity rules, differing religious practices, and such. She is clearly educated and aware of all the reasons why Jesus should ignore or despise her. But he doesn’t do that. Jesus engages in meaningful conversation with her and truly sees and knows her. In fact this is one of the longest, most lively theological conversations Jesus has with anyone in the Bible.
This unnamed Samaritan woman has often been characterized as (surprise!) a terrible sinner—most likely a prostitute—though nothing in the story necessarily suggests that interpretation. In John’s symbolic storytelling style, the woman is likely a metaphor for the Samaritans as a whole and her five husbands represent the five foreign, false gods named in 2 Kings. A cultural reading of the narrative highlights the fact that “Jesus at no point invites repentance or, for that matter, speaks of sin at all. She very easily could have been widowed or have been abandoned or divorced (which in the ancient world was pretty much the same thing for a women). Five times would be heartbreaking, but not impossible. Further, she could now be living with someone that she was dependent on, or be in what’s called a Levirate marriage (where a childless woman is married to her deceased husband’s brother in order to produce an heir yet is not always technically considered the brother’s wife.) There are any number of ways, in fact, that one might imagine this woman’s story as tragic rather than scandalous.” We don’t know what circumstances led to her situation, but we do know that she has been through a lot and is vulnerable. She’s a woman in a time where women weren’t valued as equal citizens, a member of a despised race, potentially housing insecure, and possibly shunned by other women since she comes to the well alone in the heat of the day instead of with other women in the morning or evening. She comes to the well thirsty, too, but I imagine for something other than the water that was her job to fetch. Perhaps she was thirsty for a different kind of life, a life less complicated and difficult and vulnerable and isolated.
I wonder if her exclamation “Come and see a man who has told me everything I have ever done!” was partly astonishment that someone had finally acknowledged her and seen her as a human being with a brain and heart, a person of sacred worth and dignity. This encounter inspires the woman to be the first person in John’s Gospel to invite others to “come and see” the gift of life and love and care—the living water—that Jesus offers.
There’s a lot going on in this story for sure. But today I just keep coming back to this well, this lifeline that brings unlikely folks together, that provides opportunities for new connection and insight, that reminds us of the needs and vulnerabilities we all share, that continues to gush up with fresh water even today. I was at this well in January and brought some water home… And I was thinking about the landscape in those parts and how vulnerable I would feel were I to journey on foot for any length of time there. In the wilderness and unknown places we become hyper aware of our needs and vulnerabilities. Where will we find what we need to survive, to be safe, to make it to the other side?
In this present wilderness, things get pretty basic—people are stocking up on what? Toilet tissue and water! Pretty elemental stuff. And truly, what is more elemental than water? Months ago as I was first contemplating this text for this series, I discovered a children’s coloring book called “Water Wow.” This coloring book comes with a “pen” that you fill with water. The water magically brings out the colors on the page. What a beautiful metaphor: water brings things to life, brings vitality and color. // I imagine we all know that water is THE thing that keeps our bodies alive. We can fast from food a long time but water is essential. And Jesus says in our Gospel that there’s “living water” that, once received, becomes a spring within us that “gushes up” to eternal life. What is this living water? It might be described as the grace, steadfast presence, and liberating love of God. In the wilderness, we need sustenance for both body and soul. We need water to hydrate, fuel, and cleanse our bodies and “living water”—God’s indwelling presence—to nourish and sustain our spirits.
In the face of all this, I must say it has been one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done in my 25 years of ministry to NOT be physically ingathering our community in worship on this day. Not only did we have to postpone our special music and reception of 17 new family members here at Foundry—including two adult Baptisms—but it also goes against every pastoral bone in my body. Because in moments of anxiety and uncertainty, it is a grounding thing to be in the same space with other people in worship and prayer and song and community, to be reminded—concretely—that we aren’t alone. In a society that is already so often plagued with disconnection and isolation, this forced practice of distancing seems deeply counterintuitive. But we are reminded that there is not one place or one way to connect with one another and with God. Jesus and the Samaritan woman had that debate thousands of years ago—we don’t have to worship on that mountain or that city or in this building. It’s about the more profound connection that flows within and among us through the power of Spirit. I say often that we are connected in God’s love even when we are far apart—that those who livestream our worship are connected to us in this space. This is an opportunity for us to all remember and celebrate that beautiful gift. We also know that this way of connecting is the way right now to live our mission to love each other, to love our neighbor, because it cares for the health of one anothers’ bodies.
Today we gather at the well. A well that is far away in another land, a well whose waters are present in my hand, a well that represents in our story the ever-flowing grace and mercy of God. Jesus meets us at this well. I don’t know all the circumstances of your life or how you are holding this present moment or how you came to be where you are today. But the Gospel suggests that Jesus does. Jesus sees you, knows what you are going through, what you are feeling today, what you’re thirsting for. Jesus also knows how God’s liberating, reconciling love will set you free to live with greater courage, peace, hope and joy. Jesus knows God’s indwelling presence will sustain you through the wilderness. Jesus sees your dignity and your worth and the difference you can make in the lives of others. This living water is available for you…
Having received it, the invitation is to follow the lead of the Samaritan woman and to offer others water that nourishes both body and soul, to offer physical sustenance to those who need it and to invite others to drink from the well of God’s steadfast mercy and love. Draw from the wellspring of your kindness and generosity and get groceries for folks who can’t get out, reach out to folks who may be feeling anxious or overwhelmed as they try to telework and care for kids who aren’t in school. Organize an online small group or prayer group. Be intentional about calling those in your pew neighborhood who may not have online technology to be connected in this way. Stay close to your sponsor or sponsee. If you happen to go to a restaurant, tip big. If you have the means, give alms to the service agencies who will be even more stretched than usual. Say thank you. Be mindful of the many ways that this wilderness moment is making vulnerable people even more vulnerable.
Today, Spirit has led us in the wilderness to a well and we are blessed to gather at the water, the wellspring of love and grace that nourishes and reconciles and connects and sustains vitality and the beautiful colors of life together. Wow. Thanks be to God.
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