Written by clergy and lay people across our Diocesan community, ‘Sunday Devotions’ is a column of short reflections based on a Lectionary reading of the day, suitable for small group discussion or personal use.
Main Readings: Exodus 17.1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5.1-11; John 4.5-42
Supplementary Readings: Psalm 63.1-9; 2 Corinthians 11.1-9; Exodus 3.9-17a; Psalm 119. (33-40) 41-48; Matthew 26.57-75
“Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’” (John 4.39)
Each of us can probably remember a time when a completely unexpected experience or encounter totally changed the direction of our lives. A calling to ministry was one such time for me as I sat as a mother, of four children under five, in St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne. From that moment my life was changed.
The Samaritan woman at the well also had an unexpected encounter with God, as she realised, “he knows me and has told me everything I have ever done.” God our creator knows each one of us intimately and, like this woman, is calling each of us to straighten our path so that we can walk in his light. This unlikely interaction between a Rabbi and a Samaritan woman reminds us that we can all find and encounter Christ in the unexpected.
One of the most gripping parts of this story is that the woman actually left Jesus in her excitement to tell others about her encounter as she felt compelled ‘to go’ and share her story with the Samaritan villagers. After seeking and spending time with Jesus, the villagers said to her, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.” (John 4.42)
May each one of us be like this woman and have no choice but ‘to go’ and tell others about how Christ has changed our lives, so they may in turn believe.
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