A big consideration for people on the move is to find a source of drinkable water. Homesteaders or entire civilisations need to pitch camp where the water flows free. Much has been written about the quest for fresh water, and of the battles which sometimes ensue as competing forces claim springs, wells and lakes. With global warming encroaching much faster than we expected, water has often appeared where it hasn’t for millennia–and has dried up in familiar places. “Thirst” can be symbolic of dusty souls and arid dreams: readings for this upcoming weekend attempt to address the dryness of daily life.
The Exodus passage, 17:1-7, presents the People of the Hebrews wandering in the Sinai wilderness, and rations are getting low. “Are you trying to kill us, Moses?” they said. “WE HAVE NO WATER!” Directed by God, Moses struck a boulder with his sacred staff, and a spring gushed forth! Did this make ’em happy? Only for a little while; then the Back to Egypt committee convened again… Fact is, we Chosen/Frozen People are never happy: we continue to search for that which may or may not sustain us, pilgrims through this barren land.
We can and probably should explore the many directions and theological wisdom found in Romans 5:1-11. The verse which jumped out at me is the very first, where Paul says that “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand”. Not specifically mentioning “water”, it speaks of the fullness which comes to the believer as he/she traverses the dry spots of life. Whoever’s designated to interpret this verse needs to help the rest of us to sort through the symbols of need in order that we can claim Jesus as the author of hydration.
The Gospel is John’s unique account of Jesus and the Woman at the Well of Jacob, deep in the heart of Samaria (4:5-42). No righteous Jew should even BE here, no less talking to one of Them, and a WOMAN, fer goodness sake! The key to this narrative is that Jesus offers Living Water to the “worst” person he encounters, v.10. In Sunday’s sermon, I’m gonna try to urge the hearers to join the Lord in offering satisfaction to the least of those they may encounter in the work-place or market-place. AND to remind those who’re dry and dusty themselves that Jesus continues to be the Source of refreshment even in the encroaching wilderness! Whatever the outcast may have done or been, the Good News is that God loves her, warts ‘n’ all!
Richard Rohr sums it up–“The ego does not know how to receive things freely or without logic. It prefers a worldview of scarcity, …where only the clever win. It likes to be worthy and needs to understand in order to be able to accept things. That problem, and its overcoming, is at the very center of the gospel plot line. It has always been overcome from God’s side. The only problem is getting us in on the process!” (THINGS HIDDEN, pp. 156-157)
God Bless Us, Every One Horace Brown King
The ongoing story of how I’m wrestling with the Scripture lessons assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com
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