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This past Sunday, I was blessed to have a sermon preached in honor of my ministry at Trinity Presbyterian Church. It was an amazing gift and I am so grateful to my pastor and friend, Dr. Dan Anderson-Little, who has been a constant source of creativity, energy and inspiration over the past seven years.
You can hear the sermon by clicking on the following link:
I have been really touched by the sermons that my pastor at Trinity has given over the past few weeks. He has been preaching on the Gospel passages from the Lectionary, most of which have been from John. Instead of offering a heavy dose of Christology, he has presented rather impressionistic reflections that have drawn me into the story and into an deeper appreciation of Jesus’ life and ministry. I highly recommend the series, which can be found on the church’s website.
Last Sunday’s passage recounted Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. While Dr. Dan was preaching, I realized that I have always missed an important detail in the narrative – that Jesus meets her in middle of the day. He pointed out that women typically went to get water at earlier or cooler times. But this woman, who had been ostracized by her community, went when the chance of bumping into others would be slim. I can imagine that she had been wounded by the disapproving glances of her neighbors, the gossip behind her back or the outright discrimination that she experienced because of her mistakes and impropriety. She was no stranger to shame and rejection. Jesus must have known that there was something strange about her coming to the well at this time of day; it gave away the fact that she was on the fringe of the community.
But despite all of this, she found something compelling, gentle and healing in Jesus’ gaze. The barriers were broken down. He diffused her shame. First his loving eyes and then his words let her know that she was one of God’s beloved. They helped her to begin a journey of reclaiming her self-esteem and dignity – an understanding that, despite what her family, neighbors or religious community might say, her mistakes, weaknesses and sins did not separate her from God’s love. And Dr. Dan pointed out that this awakening must have been evident in her eyes after this encounter, because when she went back to the town to tell them about Jesus people actually took her seriously and came to check him out. She must have shown a vulnerability, a freedom or a renewed sense of dignity that indicated an encounter with someone or something quite amazing.
As I think about what the Samaritan woman saw in Jesus’ eyes, I am reminded of some powerful words by James Alison:
“It seems to me that the doctrine of the incarnation of our Lord, the image of God coming among us as like likeness of humans, is a strong statement that the divine regard is one of liking us, here and now, as we are. Glad to be with us. And this means that one one who looks at us with love is not just looking at us with a penetrating and inscrutable gaze of utter otherness, but is looking at us with the delight of one who enjoys our company, who wants to be one with us, to share in something with us.
Our faith is that the eyes of God that are in Christ, and thus the divine regard through which we can receive new being, are eyes that like us, from alongside, at the same level as us. Which means they do not control us, do not try to “know better than us” who we are, but want to participate in a discovery with us of who we are to become.” (On Being Liked, pg. 107-08)
I would like to believe that the Samaritan saw eyes of genuine love and, even more, the eyes of someone who simply delighted to be with her. Rather than judgement and disdain, she saw the eyes of someone who wanted her to become a free and happy person, with a sense of purpose and dignity. And the miracle is that the eyes of this newly-freed, deeply-liked woman brought freedom and hope to others. I’m reminded of another quote, this one attributed to Nelson Mandela:
“We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. Its not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
I’m sure there is so much more to this passage but today I am touched by the loving and liberating presence of Jesus, by his eyes of acceptance. And I believe more passionately that one of the greatest gifts that I can can share with the world are eyes that radiate the acceptance and freedom that I have found in him.
