MEDITATION AND REFLECTIONS ON JOHN 4:5-6 - DR. NOEL JACOBS, SAINT AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA

John 4:5,6
So He came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’s well was there.  Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well.  It was about the sixth hour.”

Meditation
Jesus, weary from traveling, was sitting by Jacob’s well. Just picture it; picture yourself seeing that on your own walk one day.  If that isn’t a stage scene setup, I don’t know what is.  What happens next?  Well, I’m not going to give it all away, and you hopefully have read the whole passage already. Suffice it to say Jesus discusses way more about the kingdom of heaven with a Samaritan woman than I bet she expected when she walked up. How often in our daily lives does something so profound and unexpected happen that it shatters our understanding of the natural order?
We follow a teacher who knows us so well it scares us when we realize this.  He asks us to be always ready to listen, to learn, to be willing to change our minds.  He asks us to question the fundamental assumptions we have regarding human nature and our own worth.  He asks us to challenge the assumption of where we *should* worship God.  And, ultimately, He asks us to trust that we can find our path back to Love through Him.  That is a lot to ask. And it is surprising and frightening when we finally and fully understand it.  And it is wonderful.

Prayer
Lord of Love, You surprise us when You show up and we are not prepared, which is always.  We don’t deserve the attention, the time, the grace.  And then we realize You think we do.  You offer us hope, and meaning, and purpose, and life itself.  Help us to be ready to always receive You.  Amen.


Submitted by Noel Jacobs, Saint Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma​