Little Matthew watched, fascinated, as his mother, smoothed white cream on her face. "Why do you do that, Mom?” he asked. "To make myself beautiful," she smiled. She then began to remove the cream with a tissue. "What's the matter?" the little boy asked. "Giving up already?"
One of the amazing aspects of the gospel story is that the woman doesn’t have to be anything other than what she really is. As a matter of fact, that’s what really attracts her to Jesus and what she shouts to others
. . . is that he knew all about her, even the stuff that she was trying to hide.
Jesus says that he shall give living water and this water will spring up in us. Many of us have a hard time believing that. We think that the water he gives is frozen [Reveal a block of ice].
-we think that God is too hard on us . . . with this awful mess, this terrible flu, this imperfect family.
Or we might think that the water given to us is too hot. [Reveal steam from boiling water]
-we ignore following Jesus’ advice to forgive because we think that person will burn us again
-or we don’t want to love our enemies because they might not love us back (or take advantage of us)
And yet Jesus says I will give you living water [Pour water from a pitcher into a basin]
-it’s like Jesus saying, “I know you. I know your fault, your sins. I know that habit you have.
I know the thoughts that go on in your head. Let’s work on that, but I am not going
to stop loving you because of those things. This living water is meant to help you grow.
Just like all living things need living water to grow. My message for you is not frozen in time
like I only give it when you are good. NO.
Nor is my message too much, that is too hot, for you to handle. You can do it. You can be better. I know you. I know all about you. Trust me.
Maybe you were taught that you are defective in some way. That’s a lie.
Maybe you thought that you would have to be perfect for me to love you.
No, just be faithful. Perfection is a myth.
Maybe you believe that you don’t deserve happiness. Well no one earns happiness, it is simple
an awakening of what you already have.
[Pour more water]
Coming up, we have some times for Reconciliation. This Wednesday is our communal Lent service with creative presentation of the Stations of the Cross and many priest available for individual reconciliation.
Next Friday, March 31, we will Reconciliation all day long here at the North church. This is happening at various Churches all over the Diocese. Come anytime 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. And we give a special invitation for those of you who haven’t gone in years . . . or decades. Come! God’s forgiveness is hard or too cold.
Here’s one final thought for you to ponder this week: The search for your true self and the search for God are exactly the same thing. As you find your true self, you will find God. As you find God you will find
your true self.