Truth frees, but it can also frighten. It's easy to retreat to the familiar categories that keep the new truth at bay and contribute to the breaking of the true community in which we are already one: "Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is Jerusalem." You can almost hear her relief. It's black or white. One or the other. Only, the old way serves up dead water, and she's had a taste of Water that Lives.
"Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem." Something new is afoot that will take us out of our hardened categories to tend the new thing being born in and among us ‘in spirit and in truth.' She hears, lets it in, and becomes the one who invites others to "Come and see," as John's Jesus had done with the first followers in this gospel.
Her life will never be the same, nor will ours in our communities as we allow ourselves to be like both figures in the story -- permeable, willing to engage, and open to being surprised by the Living Spirit.
For your reflection and conversation:
In our community this year, how have I contributed to the hardening of categories and relationships by my refusal to be touched by the human need and perspective of another or to offer my own?
Where might a ‘decrease' in my/our familiar ways of being and doing be invited? What would enable us to let down and open to the good surprise of the Spirit?
Read recent articles in this series:
Sandra Lommasson is the founder and co-executive director of Bread of Life, a spiritual formation center in Sacramento, CA, and a spiritual director. Her passion is creating processes and pathways for the formation of spiritual directors and leaders of religious or public organizations. She is a published author in the field of spiritual formation and served on the Council of Spiritual Directors International from 1999-2005.
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