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| Water of Life |
My friends dislike of tea led to many uncomfortable moments for him in ministry, when people would offer him tea, or coffee (he didn't like coffee either) and he wouldn't accept it. It was like he wasn't accepting their hospitality – like he didn't really want to be there.
Water is mentioned quite a lot in our gospel for this Sunday. The Samaritan woman goes to Jacob's well to draw water. Jesus is thirsty. He asks for a drink. The ice is broken, and the conversation unfolds. It is a heart moment. Jesus is quiet and calm; the lady, bemused and wondering. Jesus speaks in what seem like riddles about the water of life.
And something clicks. She gets it. She runs to tell the others.
Like many of the stories of the gospels, if we pause for a moment; hear some of the words and follow some of the actions, we too can find ourselves 'getting it', even if its just for a moment.
'Water' is one of those words. Water is life. Unclean, dirty water, is death. This week we have heard about water contaminated by radiation in Tokyo and the measures taken by the authorities there to distribute bottled water to families with infant children. 'Water' is life. Not one of us would wish to give our child contaminated water.
Water is also the means by which we are all brought into the life of Christ and the life of the Church at our baptism. Some among us may be preparing to celebrate their baptism this Easter. Water of life, and words of life: "I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Our baptism with water calls us into the new life of Christ. It reminds us of who we are as children of God. We realise that nothing can or should separate us from the new, eternal life offered us in Christ; not sectarian divisions or other things that divide us, including our sins.
We are all welcomed and invited. It is up to us to allow ourselves to listen carefully and be moved enough to follow.
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