3 Lent A March 15, 2020
Ex.17:1-17
Ps.95:6-11
Roman 5:1-11
John 4:5-42
The Gospel communities of Jesus Christ developed community beliefs and practices during the decades which followed the life of Jesus of Nazareth. They were communities found in the cities of the Roman Empire which were experiencing urbanization and so the home churches proved to be inviting extended family for persons arriving into cities. The churches found that their message of the Risen Christ replicated itself in spiritual experience and this spiritual experience became the new citizenship expression of the churches. And Jews, Gentiles, men, women, slaves and their owners, Samaritans, zealots, Pharisees, Saduccees, members of the community of John the Baptist began to comprise the membership of the churches.
The early churches practiced an inclusive diversity; this practice of diversity did not characterize the former practice of the synagogue and the Temple for Jews during the actual time of Jesus.
So the early church needed to present the origin of the practice of diversity of membership within the life of Jesus. And so we have this discourse of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well.
The story highlights the long history of divisions even within the ancient territory that once made up Israel. Long ago, the land of Israel became divided between the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. They had separate lines of monarchs. The Northern kingdom was overrun by the Assyrians and many inter-married with the conquerors thus assimilating with their captors. The religious people of the kingdom of Judah, maintained their ethnic purity and the people of the northern kingdom became "enemies," even though these enemies had their own form of Torah religion. Their Torah indicated that Mount Gerizim would be the holy place for their Temple. So there was a division between Gerizim and Jerusalem.
But what had happened by the time the churches were flourishing in the cities of the Roman Empire? Mount Gerizim shrines were destroyed in the year 67 and Jerusalem and the Temple in the year 70. The Holy Places for the Samaritans and the Jews had been destroyed and their populace had become scattered.
The early churches were proof that former enemies were now loving friends in Christian fellowship. The identities which previously divided people were now longer divisive. Why? The Temple, the Torah, the Temple of Mt. Gerizim were no longer to be reason for division. Why? Because it was the Holy Spirit who created Holy Places. And the Holy Spirit was not limited to the Temple in Jerusalem or on Mt. Gerizim. The Holy Spirit is nomadic and omni-present and the Holy Spirit is able to become in each person like a gushing spring of water always baptizing us from within. God is Spirit and those who worship God must worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
The religion of Jesus Christ is a religion of Spirit and through this Spirit we share membership in God's kingdom. And people of all tongues and races and previous backgrounds had come to know this Universal Holy Spirit of God.
This remains the truth for us today; the church is a church of worshipping God in Holy Spirit and Truth. We can be like the disciples who did not think Jesus should engage this foreign woman and we can be like the Samaritan woman who was very certain of her exclusive Samaritan heritage. Or, we can submit to the Holy Spirit who transcends differences and indwells anyone who wants to know and express of the love of God.
We in the Episcopal Church are not so popular today. Why? Because we believe in the inclusive Holy Spirit of God who inhabits all kinds of people who are not even accepted as valid members of other churches.
Let us hold on to this inclusive Holy Spirit who is willing to be present in the lives of all. May this expansive Holy Spirit continually stretch our hearts so that we too will always practice the welcoming love of the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The early churches practiced an inclusive diversity; this practice of diversity did not characterize the former practice of the synagogue and the Temple for Jews during the actual time of Jesus.
So the early church needed to present the origin of the practice of diversity of membership within the life of Jesus. And so we have this discourse of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well.
The story highlights the long history of divisions even within the ancient territory that once made up Israel. Long ago, the land of Israel became divided between the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. They had separate lines of monarchs. The Northern kingdom was overrun by the Assyrians and many inter-married with the conquerors thus assimilating with their captors. The religious people of the kingdom of Judah, maintained their ethnic purity and the people of the northern kingdom became "enemies," even though these enemies had their own form of Torah religion. Their Torah indicated that Mount Gerizim would be the holy place for their Temple. So there was a division between Gerizim and Jerusalem.
But what had happened by the time the churches were flourishing in the cities of the Roman Empire? Mount Gerizim shrines were destroyed in the year 67 and Jerusalem and the Temple in the year 70. The Holy Places for the Samaritans and the Jews had been destroyed and their populace had become scattered.
The early churches were proof that former enemies were now loving friends in Christian fellowship. The identities which previously divided people were now longer divisive. Why? The Temple, the Torah, the Temple of Mt. Gerizim were no longer to be reason for division. Why? Because it was the Holy Spirit who created Holy Places. And the Holy Spirit was not limited to the Temple in Jerusalem or on Mt. Gerizim. The Holy Spirit is nomadic and omni-present and the Holy Spirit is able to become in each person like a gushing spring of water always baptizing us from within. God is Spirit and those who worship God must worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
The religion of Jesus Christ is a religion of Spirit and through this Spirit we share membership in God's kingdom. And people of all tongues and races and previous backgrounds had come to know this Universal Holy Spirit of God.
This remains the truth for us today; the church is a church of worshipping God in Holy Spirit and Truth. We can be like the disciples who did not think Jesus should engage this foreign woman and we can be like the Samaritan woman who was very certain of her exclusive Samaritan heritage. Or, we can submit to the Holy Spirit who transcends differences and indwells anyone who wants to know and express of the love of God.
We in the Episcopal Church are not so popular today. Why? Because we believe in the inclusive Holy Spirit of God who inhabits all kinds of people who are not even accepted as valid members of other churches.
Let us hold on to this inclusive Holy Spirit who is willing to be present in the lives of all. May this expansive Holy Spirit continually stretch our hearts so that we too will always practice the welcoming love of the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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