In the fourth chapter of John, Jesus and the Samaritan woman talk at a well. Since the norms of that time would not allow a male Jew and a Samaritan woman to be in conversation, their conversation at the well is dam breaking. Jesus did not allow these barriers to stop him from offering his living water. Jesus’ concern is always for those who are marginalized by society.
The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman put a crack in the dam, which allowed living water to flow to the Samaritans. Living water is passing on the knowledge of Christ by giving honest testimony, both in our words and actions.
We need people to crack the dams of racism, classism, and genderism in our society like Christ did with this conversation. We are called to live out our baptism by making cracks in all the dams that hinder God’s people to be one in harmony.
This message is excerpted from “With God, all people matter” by Rashion Santiago from the December 21, 2022, blog of the Women of the ELCA. Today is the Third Sunday in Lent. Today we commemorate Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome, 604.
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