ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
February 12, 2022
Have you ever avoided a confrontation? Have you ever danced around or physically walked around a situation you were wanting to escape, or at least evaded it for the moment. Tomorrow, I am preaching on the wonderful story from John 4, the Woman at the Well. It begins with the narrator informing us that Jesus is on the move, returning to Galilee. This doesn’t sound like a big deal, except for the line that follows: “But he had to go through Samaria” (vs. 4). As I have often said, you can almost hear the background music in the drama becoming very ominous with the word, “Samaria.” Everyone else, at least all Jewish folks, would avoid Samaria at all costs. Yet the mission of Jesus, making real the love of God for all creation, including those who were considered Samaritans, sort of needed Jesus to go into Samaria. You can announce God’s love for every single human being, but if you steer clear of a group, it sort of undermines your point. I understand avoiding situations. There are times when I just don’t have the emotional energy in the moment. But showing up with a little kindness communicates a lot, especially when others are avoiding a person or group as if the plague was present.
Good and Gracious God, give me courage and a little extra spiritual energy when it is important to show up and help reveal something essential about you and your love. Amen.
