3LentA 20 - the woman at the well – from Fr. Chris Heller
Intro: during Lent, I’m preaching a series of homilies different from those that have stories and illustrations. Instead, I’m using a guided meditation form popularized by St. Ignatius Loyola, one that uses a single Scripture passage, and invites us into the middle of it, to encounter Christ more deeply. I invite you to clear your laps, place your hands unfolded comfortably in your laps, sit up straight and, if your feet can touch the floor, put them there. I’ll invite you to close your eyes. Let’s take a few breaths in, and out…and keep going…
It’s time to enter into our meditation. You’re standing near the marketplace in a small, insignificant town.
You have been traveling from before sunrise, & your throat is dry: you need something to drink right away.
You expect that you’ll be in this backwoods place for 10, 15 minutes at the most, and be on your way again.
You approach a store that’s offering something to drink, something to take away your thirst. And then…
You see a woman standing out front & talking loudly, & her excitement causes a crowd 2 gather around her.
She keeps saying: come see this man…. Come this man…He promised to give me living water. Come with me….. Come see this man….Come see this man who told me everything I have done.”
You’re not interested in anything other than getting a drink, and getting out of there. But now you’re curious:
what kind of man can read hearts. .. who can see inside you…who can know the whole you, tell U your story?
Take a moment: think of one positive event or part of your life story you’re happiest/most proud of. [pause]
As you’re going past this woman to get your drink, she stops talking, touches your arm & says: come with me. You stop: she’s broken your stride toward the store; she says calmly: “come see this man: it will do you good.”
You surprise yourself: joining a group of people, to see/meet a man only this woman has seen; who told her all.
& when you get close to this Jesus teacher, he’s standing/speaking & telling EACH person his/her story,
You decide you’re going to wait/speak with Jesus. When you get close, you can see the peace/calm on his face.
He tells you lot about you: a relationship going well; a habit needing to end; needing to pray more often.
At 1st you think it’s a trick! You’re amazed, & realize this man was very specific: when/how you can do better.
He doesn’t hassle/condemn you, or make you feel horrible: he just tells you the truth, so you can live in truth. You’ve never felt like this before: you no longer have to live those old lies, sins, faults & flaws no more.
& you feel so relieved, YOU start saying to other nearby people what that woman first said to you before: :
“Come see a man who told me everything…. everything…. everything I have ever done in my life.”
Take a moment and admit it: name any of those sins, or flaws or faults inside you that make you feel uncomfortable. Tell Jesus which sin/fault you’re ready to let go of right now.[pause]
Being honest to Jesus makes you feel better: more peaceful & focused, and less worried than before:
Now you can admit to yourself what once was a dark secret: you’re a sinner, someone needing love/mercy.
& now you know what other sins/fault to start eliminating from your life, & & make more room for joy/hope!
Before you leave that town, before you finally get that drink you started out to get, & get going out of town,
take a moment: make a promise to Jesus & yourself: what prayer will you pray most often this week. [p]
As we come to the end of our meditation,
we’ve told Jesus how we will pray & live this week, & we know He will bless us with strength 2B faithful.
We feel our feet press against the floor; we feel our body relax; we slowly open our eyes & adjust to the light.
We know that just as Jesus’ face was changed, he calls us to be changed, to be different, 2B>loving 2others.
We know we can depend on Jesus, because Jesus is always with us: he IS truly our Good Shepherd.