Week beginning 9th July

 

Song: Come let us sing of a wonderful love

Come let us sing of a wonderful love - YouTube

Reading: John’s gospel, chapter 4, verses 5 to 26

Song: Morning has broken

Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens - Lyric Video - YouTube

Prayers:

Father, we meet together and remember the places in the world where this is difficult or impossible. We pray for those who live in places where it is forbidden to meet in you name.

We remember the people of the Ukraine, where the war has gone on for over 500 days now. For those of us not used to war, this is impossible to imagine. We pray for those who are caught up in the violence, suffering and destruction, and ask that you will be with them; may they be aware of your presence, and power. Be with the workers for peace who are seeking a resolution to this conflict.

We pray for those who are currently suffering due to the increased cost of living, and shortages of food commodities. Be with those who are responsible for world trade, and bring justice to all who are working in the food chain.

We pray for all who live in despair and depression.

Song: Onward Christian soldiers

ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER -with lyrics video - YouTube

This story of the woman at the well is well known, and yet remains a complex story. It is the longest conversation recorded by Jesus. In Sunday school, we were told that the story was about a bad woman, who met Jesus at the well, and he turned her life around.

Jesus was en route to Jerusalem, and Samaria was in the middle of the journey. Going through Samaria was a bad idea for Jews, it would have been normal to take a route around the area, even though it took longer. It is a bit like when a friend was in Boston (USA) who was advised not to travel on the tram through Jamaica Plain after dark. I’m not sure of the reason, and it may not apply now, but he was definitely advised to take an alternative route.

The Jews and the Samaritans did not get on. Very negative views were held by the Jews about the Samaritans. About 100 years previously, the Jewish leaders had destroyed the Samaritan capital.

It was a great surprise that the Jew (Jesus) would initiate the conversation, he should have kept quiet. Jesus was on his own, the disciples had been sent into town for supplies. We can surmise that they would have been unhappy about this; they would not have relished being sent into a potentially hostile neighbourhood.

Nonetheless, Jesus starts the conversation, not only with a Samaritan, but a woman as well! He seems to have known a lot about her.

Her response was a somewhat shocked “Why are you, a Jew, asking me…?” “Why are you at the well with nothing to draw water?” “Are you greater than Jacob?”

Jesus starts to share their common ground. He reveals more about himself. He goes on to offer her the water of eternal life.

Her first response is a practical one. If she gets the living water, she won’t have to keep coming back here! Jesus tells to go get her husband, and then reveals that he knows a great deal more about her.

Wells were a well know setting , especially with reference to betrothal. Some reference to marriage would have been expected by the audience.

Traditionally, she is seen as a serial divorcée, but for all we know, she might have been an unfortunate serial widow. She may not have been the “scarlet woman” of the usual telling of the story.

Jesus reveals himself to her. Uniquely. He was not revealed to the hierarchy, but to a Samaritan, and a woman at that. This woman became one of the first evangelists, and it is because of people like her that we can all obtain Jesus’ living water.

Song: Ye holy angels bright

Ye Holy Angels Bright - YouTube