If you can we might like to light a candle, to pause and watch as it flickers. It allows us to note our breathing, to intentionally give this time to God.
Let’s start with a prayer:
God of all hope we call on you today.
We pray for those who are living in fear:
Fear of illness, fear for loved ones, fear of other’s reactions to them.
May your Spirit give us a sense of calmness and peace.
We pray for your church in this time of uncertainty.
For those people who are worried about attending worship.
For those needing to make decisions in order to care for other
For those who will feel more isolated by not being able to attend.
Grant us your wisdom.
Holy God, we remember that you have promised that
Nothing will separate us from your love – demonstrated to us in Jesus Christ.
Help us turn our eyes, hearts and minds to you.
Amen
John Chapter 4 : The Samaritan Woman. click the link to read the verses
The first five of the seven meetings of women with Jesus occur in John’s Gospel. That’s quite different to the other Gospels.
It’s interesting in that last week we may recall we spoke of Nicodemus, the man, and this week we hear of the Samaritan women. The arrival of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman are by night and by day respectively: one whom does not believe and one that does. Did we expect that Nicodemus would understand as the outcome was quite the opposite. Jesus speaks to both individuals in an intimate one- to-one situation and is aware of their lives prior to their respective meetings. One is a prominent privileged man, the other an anonymous outsider, an underprivileged woman. Nicodemus appears to know about Jesus, following the signs that he has witnessed, but becomes unable to grasp the significance of what he has been told. The Samaritan woman doesn’t know of Jesus but is willing to be taught. Nicodemus fails to grasp the deeper meaning and leaves confused; the Samaritan woman immediately understands and she leaves liberated. He is devout and she perceived as not. Markedly, Nicodemus continues to obey the Jewish Law whilst the Samaritan woman may have become a disciple of Christ, and importantly speaks to persuade others from her community.
There’s quite a contrast here; bit like life as we expected and what is to come over the next few weeks and possibly months. There’s an expectation that previous one-to-one conversations may be something we may yearn for for a while – but one that will return. Let’s not lose hope that we will endeavour to do enjoy chatting one-to-one again, maybe with less focus upon social media?
There is the person with privilege and the one without: but Jesus speaks to them both as equals. Perhaps we shall see that the virus doesn’t respect privilege, nor ethnic or racial boundaries – we all in this together. Let’s help all we can.
The societal ‘laws’ that those with and those sadly without may – should – change. The reckless buying and hoarding of toilet rolls, for example, has highlighted that we need to buy what we need, not what we can. Those with limited funds are not able to buy excessive amounts of shopping. Hence the shelves devoid of goods.
Jesus asks for a drink from the women. But Jews didn’t associate with Samaritan’s – it just wasn’t done. Jesus subverts the expected from the society then, much to the consternation of the disciples. Can we help, support, love everyone at such a time? Furthermore, the women tells others of what she had been told and needs to do – will we?
I wonder what living water we desire today.
Let’s us pray:
Holy loving God, we pray for the whole world, ignoring the borders, the languages, the colour of the skin, gender, orientation: we look into your loving eyes and seek restoration. That our world would be restored, that we would stay focused upon you at this time and onwards, that we can look to reconciliation.
Help us to look around our neighbourhoods, to see ‘family’ where others see difference, where some might see barriers that under support, we can offer ‘longer tables’.
We pray for those known to us, those that live afar, in their homes, in respite currently, that distance doesn’t mean any less love, comparing and care. Here we bring them to you.
We pray for those who live locally, may we have your eyes to see them, your hands to care for them. Give us wisdom to know how we can safely and effectively support them.
We pray for ourselves, give us strength which comes from your love. May we know especially of that peace – not it’s OK, far more than that, more of arms wrapped around, providing safety, warmth and comfort: where we might rest.
In all this we bring to you, our living God. Amen
So what’s next?
Could this be used with our neighbours? or between us? Could this be our way of provuding living water this 2020? Yes God does provide, but prayer is a verb, not a noun. It seeks action, to be God’s hands and feet.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_RjndG0IX8&w=560&h=315]