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Staying
in the Conversation
February
26/27, 2005
Fr.
George Smiga
John
4:5-42
No
other evangelist takes more time with a story than does John.
Matthew, Mark and Luke give us a narrative in a few verses.
John routinely takes a whole chapter. Today's Gospel of the
Woman at the Well is a case in point. But one of the advantages
of such lengthy narratives is that we can watch and detect
development in the characters that are within them. In today's
story we see the Woman at the Well change. What begins as
an encounter marked with suspicion and hostility, eventually
reaches the acceptance of Jesus as Messiah and Lord.
What
John is trying to do in these lengthy narratives is to reveal
to us the circumstances in which we can expect to encounter
Jesus. John prepares us to see in concrete circumstances the
possibility of meeting the Risen Lord. In this story of the
Woman at the Well, John tells us that we can expect to meet
the Lord in conversation, especially in conversations with
those who think differently than us. Opposition is certainly
the context of this story. The narrative depends on us understanding
that there was antipathy, suspicion, and hostility between
Jews and Samaritans. Both culturally and religiously, they
were groups opposed to one another. This is why Jesus' request
for a drink was such a brass move and why it would seem to
have little chance of success. The ordinary Samaritan would
have laughed and turned away from a thirsty Jew asking for
a drink. The Samaritan woman in the gospel does laugh, but
then she stays to listen and, in the conversation, she discovers
a deeper truth.
This
story tells us that it is when we enter into conversation
with those who think differently from us, we can expect to
meet Christ. It is hard to imagine a more relevant topic for
our society. For, as commentators have noticed over the last
year, America is a polarized nation. We are a nation divided
into distinct and clear camps. There are red states and blue
states, Democrats and Republicans. We are divided over the
role of religion in politics, over our involvement in the
war. We are in disagreement over the future of Social Security.
We do not agree about gay marriage or over the norms for family
life. This Gospel tells us that, instead of withdrawing and
remaining only in our own thoughts and convictions, we should
reach out to those who think differently. We should talk and
listen, believing that in that conversation we can discover
a deeper truth.
The
story even points out what we should be listening for. It
tells us that we should listen for common threads of our humanity,
for failures, for our highest ideals.
The
conversation between Jesus and the woman begins with a conversation
about the basics of life, about water. Jesus and the woman
have a different understanding of what water is but they are
in agreement on the common thirst to drink. This common understanding
moves their conversation forward. When we discuss with those
who think differently from us, we should be looking for a
common thirst, a common thread of our humanity that can unite
us. Even if we do not agree, we can at least identify what
we share.
The
story also points to the importance of recognizing our failures.
The woman is faced with and accepts her disastrous past, her
multiple failed marriages. In this honesty of her failure,
a step is taken towards the truth. In the same way, when we
talk with others who have a different point of view, any honesty
on either side cannot help but lead us forward. Admitting
that we have weaknesses, that we are imperfect, opens our
mind to listen for the possible truth in another's position.
Finally,
the woman and Jesus end up speaking about religion, about
their highest ideals. In discussing the most important beliefs,
they are able to move beyond the smaller issues. They move
beyond where worship should take place and agree on the principle
of worshipping in spirit and in truth. In the same way, when
we discuss with those who have a different point of view,
we will often be more successful if we can engage with them
around our highest ideals rather than being caught up in the
details of how to achieve them. If we can find a commonality
on the good we hope to achieve, we may be able to resolve
the strategies which divide us.
The
story of the Woman at the Well tells us that we can expect
to find Jesus in dialogue with others, especially with others
who think differently. It is not a naïve story, imagining
that once we begin to talk all obstacles will disappear. But
it does tell us that if we are willing to listen, looking
for common threads of our humanity, the reality of failure,
and the power of our highest ideals, we can make progress.
We will probably not end up thinking the same way. But if
we open ourselves to the dialogue, we can discover a deeper
truth and find Christ in the interaction. There are many places
we can find Jesus. Today's Gospel reminds us that we can find
Him in conversation, in dialogue with one another. If that
is true, we must not hold ourselves back or shut ourselves
off from interaction with those who think differently. It
is only by staying in the conversation, that we can hope to
encounter the Risen Lord.
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