This post, by Heather Weir, is a reflection on the “NOT Disqualified” sermon as part of the “Unraveled” sermon series.
On Sunday we heard the story of the Samaritan Woman who met Jesus at a well. She had a theological conversation with Jesus, and in the end, her life was turned upside down. The conversation started with the request Jesus made for water from the well. The woman’s response was “Who me? You want me to get you a drink?” As Elaine pointed out on Sunday there were lots of cultural reasons for the woman to question the simple request Jesus made – the divide between men and women compounded with that between Jews and Samaritans plus the woman’s social position in her town all meant this was an unusual request. So she asked “Who me? Are you sure?”
This “Who me?” response is not unique to this woman of Samaria. Moses said Who me? in response to God’s call, as did Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others. Asking Who me? when God calls is not wrong in itself. Not staying for an answer, not being open to the Yes You of the call of God is the wrong response. The question “Who me?” can lead to further conversation and listening. It can also close down listening if the person asking it uses it as a barrier or shield against changing themselves. They think they know who they are, and are convinced of what that means to everyone else.
In the case of the Samaritan woman, her who me? and ongoing openness to the conversation opened up space for her to hear and admit the possibility that Jesus was the Messiah, sent from God, the one both Jews and Samaritans waited for. She saw herself and the world differently because of her conversation with Jesus. She just had to tell all the people in town about this man Jesus.
What is my response to the voice of Jesus? Do I throw up barriers because of how I see the world and my place in it? Do I resist listening to what God might be saying to me in my daily routine? The Samaritan woman was open to talking with Jesus even though the conversation started with “Who me?” Am I open to talking with Jesus?