Xanax in the water

John 4:27-42

       There is such a richness to the messages I get from the Gospel of John in-spite of some of the passages that seem to eternally elude me and in-spite of the fact that we really did have a course on John's Gospel in the seminary. John's Gospel, and this passage, remind me that what the world needs is a collective dose of Xanax.

        In today's passage we find Jesus talking to a woman, and worse than that, a Samaritan woman. The disciples come along and the scripture points out that no one questioned Jesus about this. I mean, what man, what Holy Man or what Rabbi would talk to, converse or give the time of day to a freeking Samaritan woman? But as if it's the elephant in the room, no one says anything. Do you think Jesus was accomplishing two important tasks here? One of course is to convey (to the woman) that God's love and message is open to all. Second, Jesus is letting the disciples know that no one is untouchable, no one is anathema and everyone is welcome at God's table, even the ones we view as vile or loathsome or 'less than worthy'. This is an incredible message for them but just as much so for us today.

          Today the world seems at war with itself. Everyone has 'thee' message and everyone else is wrong, un-enlightened and unworthy, if not a downright infidel. Religious zealots abound in every religion and political zealots abound as well. We are a world of taliban-esque people and what we all could use is probably a worldwide dose of Xanax or reefer.

          We get so hung up on the minutiae of our religious denominations or political stances or nationalism that we forget we are all brothers and sisters. And yes, some of the biggest disfunction are in families but we are in fact one family. We are all children of God even if we have different 'recollections' of him, or her. What we are seeing in essence are different facets of a diamond if you will. Is any view more valid than the other? We truly need to appreciate diversity and sometimes I really think Xanax in the water would be welcome.

           

Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’ Then the woman left her water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah,can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.’