A Conversation
John 4:5-42
I have a set of books that are commentaries on different
books of the Bible. They are
written by Biblical scholars, but specifically intended for preachers. The one on John’s Gospel (Gerard
Sloyan, Interpretation Commentary)
says this about today’s Gospel reading about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at
the well:
Belief in Jesus by a
religiously ostracized group is what the story is about. Hence all moralizing about the woman’s
irregular life or Jesus’ relations with women, interesting as they are, are not
especially useful as an exposition of the text. The story is about religious tensions and a church which, in
its origins, sought to overcome them, even while the attempt itself caused new
tensions. John 4 should be
preached in the spirit in which it was written. If it is not, the Gospel is betrayed.
The Gospel story is about coming to faith and about
reconciliation in the midst of religious tensions. Jews and Samaritans had a common heritage but they had
become estranged over religious practice.
The Samaritan women and other Samaritans came to faith in Jesus and the
healing of a deep family feud over religion was begun.
But what actually happens in this morning’s long Gospel
reading? Jesus and the Samaritan
woman have a conversation. They
have a conversation.
No demands are made.
No judgment is passed.
It’s a conversation.
When was the last time you had a meaningful, significant
conversation?
Two things make this conversation meaningful and
significant. First, they both
bring themselves to the conversation—both Jesus and the woman express some
level of authenticity, need, vulnerability. Both are thirsty, deeply yearning for refreshment. And both need help and express that need. Second, they listen, acknowledging the
personhood of the other. So often
we seem to have lost the ability to listen, to respect the words of
others. The woman in particular
asks good questions, and listens, trying to understand the answers.
We need more of those sorts of conversations. Certainly in our political lives right
now. The church can and should be
the place to model these sorts of respectful, meaning, significant, conversations. But we need them, too, in our personal
relationships and, perhaps most to the point this morning, in our spiritual
lives.
Karoline Lewis teaches preaching at the Lutheran Seminary in
St. Paul. She describes some of
the qualities of what she calls “holy conversations” (Working Preacher, HERE).
1)
Mutual vulnerability.
2)
Second, questions
are critical to conversation. Not questions that have already decided on the
right answers. Not questions that are asked only to feign manners. No,
questions that communicate curiosity, an interest in the other, a longing for
information and understanding. The woman at the well is full of questions,
thoughtful questions, questions that matter and lead Jesus to reveal to her who
he really is. Jesus affirms questions, even invites them. God wants us to ask
questions because it is questions that strengthen relationship.
3)
Holy conversations take time. I couldn’t find the reference this
week, but I read once that this is Jesus’ longest conversation with an
individual that is recounted in Scripture. Holy conversations cannot be rushed.
4)
In a holy conversation, we should expect to be
surprised, to learn something we did not know before. And we should expect to be changed, to
grow.
So I encourage you:
have a conversation about faith with someone. If we were to model Jesus’ practice in this morning’s
Gospel, that conversation should be with a conservative born-again Christian or
a strict Catholic, someone with whom we share a common heritage of faith but
have become estranged over religious practice. A holy, meaningful, conversation, though, does take
mutuality. And that can be a
challenge, but don’t let that deter you (or serve as an excuse).
Consider a friend or family member. Have a conversation about faith.
If you have a hard time thinking about getting started, I
want to tell you about a neat organization—Story Corps. Some of you are probably aware of
it. They record and preserve
conversations and stories, meaningful and significant conversations and
stories. If you listen to NPR in
the mornings you have heard some of the recorded conversations.
It began in 2003 with a recording booth in Grand Central
Station. There’s one now here in
Chicago, too, at the Cultural Center downtown. Here’s their mission statement (From their website, HERE).
StoryCorps’
mission is to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build
connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. We do this to remind one
another of our shared humanity, to strengthen and build the connections between
people, to teach the value of listening, and to weave into the fabric of our
culture the understanding that everyone’s story matters.
They don’t mention Jesus, but that’s a pretty Christian mission
statement.
They talk about how they have found, over the years, that
the key to great conversations is asking great questions. So they have suggestions. For conversations about family, school,
relationships, war, or religion.
- Can you tell me about your religious beliefs/spiritual beliefs? What is your religion?
- Have you experienced any miracles?
- What was the most profound spiritual moment of your life?
- Do you believe in God?
- Do you believe in the after-life? What do you think it will be like?
- When you meet God, what do you want to say to Him?
Good questions are the beginning of holy, meaningful,
significant conversations. Meaningful,
significant conversations are beginnings for much more. The beginning or deepening of
relationships. The beginning of
faith for the Samaritan woman. The
beginning of reconciliation amid religious tension and difference.
So give it a try!
Have a conversation about faith with someone.
