{"id":18648,"date":"2025-03-26T00:01:27","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T00:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mwib.org.uk\/?p=18648"},"modified":"2025-03-24T07:43:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T07:43:42","slug":"lent-reflection-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mwib.org.uk\/index.php\/2025\/03\/26\/lent-reflection-16\/","title":{"rendered":"Lent Reflection 16"},"content":{"rendered":"

John 4:39-54. Jesus and a Samaritan Woman<\/p>\n

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REFLECTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The villagers had first listened to the account of the woman who came to believe Jesus was the Messiah. From this account many had come to believe, and others wanted to hear more from Jesus himself. He spent two days with the Samaritans, and although we don\u2019t know exactly what was said, he would have been sharing the good news of God\u2019s kingdom? He spoke with authority and authenticity. He was totally believable. Word had spread and people were flocking to him. The royal official, desperate for his son\u2019s life and came looking for this teacher and healer. When he met Jesus, he took him at his word and went back home. His faith in Jesus was vindicated as his son was indeed healed.<\/p>\n

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The people were amazed at Jesus because their experience was of false teachers, people who were clearly not authentic. Although they spoke with authority it was more authoritarian than genuine. We come across this in our own lives. Leaders who talk the talk but do not deliver. Their message is hollow and false and all for show. It isn\u2019t only leaders though. People in all walks of life pretend to be something they are not. Exaggerating their positions and experiences. Some even get away with it because they are so good but for many they are soon found out. We are called to be authentic and without guile. True to who we are but also to what we stand for. Are our actions aligning with what we say?<\/p>\n

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Jesus though was the real deal, and the Samaritan woman couldn\u2019t wait to tell others. Once again someone who has come to recognise Jesus as Saviour rushes to tell others. Many people believe that personal faith is just that, personal and are reluctant to share with others. It may be because they don\u2019t feel equipped to do so. Surely that\u2019s the domain of Evangelists, who are trained to do so? We have missions to hopefully spread the word. It is the responsibility of the professionals. \u201cNot me. I don\u2019t know what to say. I can\u2019t quote chapter and verse from the bible. I\u2019m too shy. What if they ask awkward questions I can\u2019t answer?\u201d All these I have heard from people over the years. Yet as we see from this reading you don\u2019t need theological training to share your faith.<\/p>\n

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The Samaritan woman felt compelled to tell others because she wanted others to have the same knowledge of salvation. I once asked a congregation if they loved God. At first stunned silence. Then slowly they said \u201cYes.\u201d I then asked them to share with the person next to them why they answered yes. What did it mean to them? Again, silence to begin with and then whoosh they were off. In fact, it took some doing getting them to stop.<\/p>\n

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We are not used to sharing our faith with other believers so it\u2019s understandable that we find it difficult to share with non-believers or those on the edge. It is context I believe which is important. We can of course share our faith through our actions but it\u2019s being prepared to share in words the Gospel message of God\u2019s love.<\/p>\n

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QUESTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n