Lent: A Journey to Hope in Uncertain TimesSample

Jesus traveled around a bit during His ministry. Once, on His way to Galilee, He cut through Samaria instead of going around it. While there, Jesus sat by a well and conversed with a woman. Jesus was already breaking cultural norms by being in Samaria, but He pushed the status quo even further by conversing with a woman. And yet this is what Jesus repeatedly did in His ministry: He centered those on the fringe of society. And while we do not know if Jesus knew beforehand He was going to have a conversation that day with the woman at the well (as some scholars believe), we have reason to believe that he would welcome an interruption to His plans as an invitation to do the will of the Father. This is just one of the many examples in this account for us. More often than not, seeking the good of all and living on mission is about accepting the interruptions in our plans as invitations by God to get involved in the work the Spirit is already doing.

REFLECT

• What about Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well stands out to you?

RESPOND

• How does Jesus’ response to the interruption set an example for us? What does it mean for you in particular?