I am sure you have heard this saying, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” Also, I am almost positive that once in your lifetime you had the feeling of wanting something and yet not being able to identify it. (Could be as simple as what you want to eat?) In this week’s Gospel, I truly believe that the Samaritan woman was experiencing both situations.
During my annual retreat this year, the book I was using, The Song of the Seed, by Macrina Wiederkehr, had a chapter on the Samaritan Woman called “The Dance of Conversion.” Allow me to share part of what I experienced. First of all, Jesus didn’t have to go through Samaria to get where he was going, but he went that way. And so, the teacher appears. The Samaritan woman was thirsty, weary, curious, and yet fearful. Who is this man who knows so much about her? What does it mean that she will never thirst again? Jesus has the amazing ability to go deeper and deeper into her heart by simple questions that start to intrude into her personal life. That can be very scary. And yet, she stayed and listened. As far as you and I go, what part of our lives would we be most reluctant to have challenged? Name it.
In the story, the woman puts down her water jugs. She is letting go of that which may be causing her thirst. She is in the process of conversion and has decided to follow Jesus’ plan for her and give up her own plan. Think about it: what are some of the plans in your life you might need to set aside so Jesus’ plan can take over?
During this week, read over the story, place yourself in it, and spend time sitting at the well. The teacher will appear if you are ready to be open and look inward. Think: what are you most reluctant to change in your life? What water jars are you willing to set down so that true conversion can take place? Know that your spiritual dehydration can be satisfied if you will just sit by the well with Jesus.
Till next week,
Sister Theresita Donach
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