NOW WHAT?! March 16-22, 2020
Welcome to the first NOW WHAT?!
This devotional is inspired by the general sense of - well, NOW WHAT?! That pervades these early days of the COVID19 Pandemic in rural Minnesota, and likely - in many places around the US and the world. So what does it mean to be a Christian, right now? Today? And how do we do it? Read on for devotional material to reflect and wonder along with scripture and your life experience.
Living Water - for us, and to share
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the source of all love and meaning in the life. When things become unsettled, we look to you for guidance. Sometimes it feels like you are nowhere to be found. Open our eyes to your presence today and each day. Open our hearts to trust you over ourselves, and open souls to your saving peace and love as we surrender our preferences and need for control over to you during our devotional time. AMEN.
Scripture: John 4:1-42 (these texts follow the Revised Common Lectionary from the Sunday prior)
Please read John 4:1-42 in your own bible, or bible app, or click here to read.
Give yourself time after reading to think and reflect. (I suggest at least 2-4 minutes)
Look over the text one more time. This time, either highlight, underline, or even write into your bible some notes.
Note the following - what caught your attention? What thoughts or memories came up in your mind? What are you reminded of?
Having spent some time in reflection - how is this text speaking to you today? Hold that in mind.
Reflection: It has been a crazy week so far around here. When this is written we are still in the first week of the COVID19 shutdown and watching it develop. But regardless of when you are reading this - there are many crazy weeks in our lives - especially these days as the pace seems to only ask us to increase. Go faster the world shouts. Faster still! We struggle to keep pace - getting kids to all the right events and activities, getting parents into the best care facility or assisted living. We post things at all times, watch things at all times, and never slow down, until we crash in front of the latest diversion - movies, streaming, books, podcasts, games, and then eventually sleep fitfully only to do it all over again.
Yes - this is exaggerated. Yes, this is not everyone’s life. But it is a reality for many folks of working age up through early retirement. It is a reality for many children whose parents or parent is running at full pace in a marathon of action. It is a reality for our elders who are surrounded by such a pace and yet unable to directly participate. They may be satisfied with a slower pace and unable to understand the urgency they see in younger generations.
I have experienced some of the following in the last week- Have you?
Shock: that everything is changing quickly.
Anger: that I must adapt and try to use a different measuring stick for success and failure.
Sadness: that many will suffer in the weeks to come from fear, anxiety, financial stress, hunger, loneliness.
Anger Again: That God is somehow not doing what God is supposed to do!
Anxiety: wondering if I am doing what I am supposed to as a Child of God? As a person of Faith? As a father, husband, son - etc.
Restlessness: wanting to act more directly than I can do effectively - needing to get energy out in useful ways.
“We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!””
In the scripture for this week’s Gospel there are a few things worth noting.
Jesus intentionally chooses to travel through Samaria - a place of high conflict between Israel and Judea - ( read more here if you’re interested (especially the History section) Why would he do that? What was to be gained by entering a place that was antagonistic to Israelites?
Once they’ve arrived, he enters into conversation with a Woman who is gathering water and in their conversation - they move from Jesus being just a man she is talking to towards, Jesus is rabbi who is teaching, to Jesus is a prophet who proclaims mystery and truth, finally to Jesus is possibly the Messiah. What about Jesus could inspire that in a stranger danger sort of conversation? Have you ever had a conversation of quick trust like that with someone? How did it go?
The woman runs off - jar forgotten, into the city proper, and soon a hug crowd has gathered. What was it about what and how she told others about Jesus got a swift and powerful response? Remember - this is primarily a subsistence culture. Stopping work for the day also means not eating as well the next day. How do you communicate your experiences to others? Experiences of faith too?
After coming to hear form Jesus himself - (a life and death situation for a Hebrew who has now accosted a woman in the middle of town, and is teaching theological and spiritual matters. They could have just as well stoned him or thrown him out of town or down the mountain.) the crowd that has gathered asks Jesus to stay for 2 more days. Imagine the consequences to the towns daily life to shut things down as everyone comes out to listen! How inconvenient! How unusual?! Why all the bother?!
Finally- after listening and learning from Jesus - the crowd speaks in the reading - “ We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”
So in just a few days, an enemy stranger became their “Savior”. How can this be?
Thoughts for the week: When we can no longer accomplish our own tasks, when our normal lives are interrupted - we can be angry, frustrated, hurt, disappointed with God, and anxious. Jesus waltzes in to a city called Sychar and causes a huge disturbance. And yet - the result is trust and a recognition that God is on the scene and acting for the people.
For at least these early weeks of COVID19 and also for Christians in times of change in general, what does it look like to sit down, stop, and enter into conversation with Jesus? What does it take to listen, to discern what Jesus has for us - actions to take, reflections that are necessary, memories that arise and need processing, emotions that are percolating…are you able to in the midst of your daily work - like gathering water at the well, to stop for a moment and listen to Jesus?
And maybe the most intriguing part of this story - when we begin to make it a habit to listen and look for Jesus, will he make the move in our own hearts and minds from being our Messiah, to instead, being OUR actual Savior? One that we truly trust for rescue, redemption, salvation, and life everlasting?
Closing Prayer: Jesus - you are the source of our life. Show us where we have trusted in other sources, and bring us back to you. Your word, your truth, and your love are the foundation that our lives rest upon. Restore us to you so that we may hear your will and restore the world wherever we go in whatever ways you call us to. In your name we pray. Amen.