Year A
Lent
Third Sunday in Lent
Contextual Background:
Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well. He breaks social taboos, offers living water, and reveals himself as Messiah. She becomes a witness, and many believe in the Kindom of God through her. Jesus should not have been in Samaria, talked with a woman, or stayed with in the Samaritan village. In doing so, Jesus gave away much of his honor rating and reputation.
Within the Jewish Tradition:
Wells were places of covenant encounters (Jacob, Moses). Water symbolized life, Torah, and Spirit. Samaritans shared Israel’s heritage but were despised by Judeans.
The Challenge Then:
The challenge was to accept that God’s Messiah spoke to a Samaritan woman — marginalized by gender, ethnicity, and reputation. She ends the story by sitting with the men talking about theological matters.
The Challenge Now:
Our religio builds walls of exclusion by gender, race, and religion. Jesus breaks these barriers and centers the witness of the marginalized and our capacity to build a better world together – with those of diverse traditions and cultures.
Implications for Leaders & Communities:
- Leaders: listen to and empower marginalized voices.
- Communities: practice hospitality that crosses boundaries.
What I Am Learning:
Living water flows when we cross divides and listen deeply and see the Image of God in one another.
The Question I’m Sitting With:
Who are the marginalized voices in my community carrying living water?
