Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 15 March 2020

Third Sunday of Lent

How things have changed in a week! No doubt when I reread these words at a later time, the memory of Covid19 will have become one with so many others, but I for one, shall not forget the tension and anxiety of people, nor the sense that the world I know is being turned upside down. On a personal note, I understand fully what anxiety means, there are two viruses; at work, Covid19 and a more insidious one of fear. In myself it is higher anxiety, imagination running riot so much so I have to physically quiet it down by walking, praying, focusing on the positive. Yet we see it in it's mutations, the panic buying, the real selfishness of others, like the man, basket filled with pasta, who refused to give an old lady a packet, it's the cock-a hoop remarks about the 'oldies' who are going to get it, and the more sinister comments about clearing the decks. These are horrible things and we need to combat them with the vaccination of compassion and love.

In the Gospel of this Sunday, John tells us the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and the dialogue Jesus has with her about living water and eternal life, she a forbidden person to a Jew, and outcast to be ignored by the religiously observant spars with Christ, to good effect. Hearing him she goes to her own people and says this: "Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?" (Jn 4:29) This small sentence is one we might miss, but it is the proclamation of the Saviour to her people by a woman apostle from another faith tradition, in her own way she tells them the Good News and her ministry bears much fruit:

"Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman* who testified, "He told me everything I have done."When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, "We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the saviour of the world."(Jn 4:39-42)

This small glimpse into the preaching of the Gospel is something we need to examine and pray through. At this moment in time, the drink of life is no longer part of our regular communion because of the virus, the waters of blessing and of baptism no longer touch us, until we get the all clear, the oil of the Spirit is not placed on us by physical touch, we are like the woman in a place of uncertainty and confusion. Yet we are not alone.

The Cardinal and others have reminded us to really look out for each other, and to care and treasure our elderly and vulnerable, in these we see Christ at the margins, we must stand up for them, do all we can to live out the Good News especially in combatting fear and anxiety, but following sane, sound medical advice. At this time those who behave selfishly need to be gently but persistently called out, challenged to think of others. This is the time for true love of neighbour, by phone and text, What's App, Face Time, Skype, in whatever way we can reach out. But tonight as I write this I turn my prayers to the Woman of Samaria and ask for her courage, her trust in the unknown Christ who meets us exactly where we are, in home or at the wells of our love and asks us as he asks her to give him something to drink. May we do that, may we nourish others at this time, may the unnamed Woman Apostle of the Gospel from Samaria intercede for us. Amen

Lenten Lectio

Psalm 41

Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
The Lord protects and preserves them-
they are counted among the blessed in the land-
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
The Lord sustains them on their sickbed
and restores them from their bed of illness.

I said, "Have mercy on me, Lord;
heal me, for I have sinned against you."

My enemies say of me in malice,
"When will he die and his name perish?"

When one of them comes to see me,
he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;
then he goes out and spreads it around.

All my enemies whisper together against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,
"A vile disease has afflicted him;
he will never get up from the place where he lies."

Even my close friend,
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned[b] against me.

But may you have mercy on me, Lord;
raise me up, that I may repay them.

I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.

Because of my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence forever.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.

From Homily 33 On the Samaritan Woman

St John Chrysostom

Everywhere, beloved, we have need of faith, faith the mother of blessings, the medicine of salvation; and without this it is impossible to possess any one of the great doctrines. Without this, people are like to those who attempt to cross the open sea without a ship, who for a little way hold out by swimming, using both hands and feet, but when they have advanced farther, are quickly swamped by the waves: in like manner they who use their own reasonings, before they have learnt anything, suffer shipwreck; as also Paul says, "Who concerning faith have made shipwreck." ( 1 Tim. 1:19.) That this be not our case, let us hold fast the sacred anchor by which Christ brings over the Samaritan woman now. For when she had said, "How do you say that Jerusalem is the place in which we ought to worship?" Christ replied, "Believe Me, woman, that the hour cometh, when you shall neither in Jerusalem, nor yet in this mountain, worship the Father." An exceedingly great doctrine He revealed to her, and one which He did not mention either to Nicodemus or Nathanael.