Going to the Well

The Samaritan woman at the well said to Jesus, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:19-24

Yesterday as part of the closing Eucharist at Convocation, we were invited to come to the font and bless ourselves with the water that had been blessed for baptism. Everyone came forward, anointing their heads and hearts, renewing their baptism, reconnecting to community and recommitting to service. The young ones were helped by parents and all felt the presence of the spirit among us.

Jesus meets an outsider, a non-tribal member, someone he should never talk to, nor should he share the same well with him. Their conversation went on to their religious differences but he promised her that that which separated us in faith and clan would be of no more importance. And yet, we see too often who is left out of our church leadership and our circles. We still exclude by difference although that is not God's intention.

Today I ask God to help me continue the important ministry of inclusion. May we know no barriers to our faith and never keep others out. God has made us one family, one people of God across generations, languages, cultures, customs and economics. May we have faith enough to live that out today.