Collects for Lent 3
Merciful Lord, Grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5: 1-11
John 4: 5-30, 39-42
Jesus asks for a drink of water. From a Samaritan. And a Samaritan woman at that. He would become ritually unclean. Even worse, she is living out of wedlock – she has to draw water in the hottest part of the day, because she would be shunned by the ‘ upright’ women getting their water in the cool of the early morning. None of this causes Jesus to reject her. She knows her history and her religious traditions, and He is prepared to engage her in conversation. She doesn’t appear to be fazed by Jesus, even though she recognises Him as a prophet; then when He declares Himself to be the Messiah she has heard about, she is prepared to accept Him for who He claims to be, to the extent she is prepared to testify to her neighbours, resulting in His invitation to stay – sharing the hospitality of Samaritans.
Shock! Horror! What will the disciples think? What if the Jewish leaders hear what Jesus is up to now?
Jesus doesn’t care. When she woke that morning, she had no inkling that her life would change forever. He gives her the gift of life for her future. He doesn’t care about our past, either – He waits to meet us where we are, whoever we are. Women. Sinners. Foreigners. Heretics. Proselytes. He treats everyone equally – condemning the hypocrites irrespective of rank or title, eating with tax collectors, talking to women, healing the ritually unclean.
Jesus’ world is now, and has always been, free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. Let our world be the same.
Our annual Vestry meeting will take place at 2:00 on 17th April, St Michael, Waterville.
Previous Posts
Praying Together 18th February 2024
The world is in flames. Are you impelled to put them out? Look at the cross. From the open heart gushes the blood of the Saviour. This extinguishes the flames of hell. Make your heart free by the faithful fulfilment of your vows;
Praying Together 11th February 2024
It’s the same for us – we cannot build our faith on just one or two aspects of Jesus’ story. The fundamental truth we need to accept that He is risen from the dead and He is Lord, alive.
Praying Together 4th February 2024
He asks for no reward, save that of loving His creation, His Father and our neighbours (all of them) as He loves – do we even do that?
Praying together 28th January 2024
So, says Paul, eat or don’t eat. Stop making a fuss over things that don’t matter, and get on with loving your neighbour.
Praying Together 21st January 2024
as we celebrate this week of Christian Unity, let us consider what service we could offer together, that we wouldn’t be capable of achieving on our own – the whole being much greater than the parts.
Praying Together January 14th 2024
Plough Sunday has its roots in medieval times, when the parish church was often used to store a communal plough in the winter months, then being decorated and blessed before the rhythm of the agricultural season begins once more on Plough Monday
Praying Together 7th January 2024
When the world looks at us, sees our actions, our life, do we reflect the light of Christ, and further His Kingdom? Or do we deepen the darkness?
Praying Together 31st December 2023
Jesus – the revolutionary terrorist according to the Sanhedrin – is different, however, in one unique regard.
His only weapon is love.
Even for enemies.
Which is how His Victory is won.
Praying Together 25th December 2023
Without the crib, there is no cross.
Without the cross, the crib has no meaning.
Unto us a child is born…
… a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.
Praying Together 17th December 2023
May you walk in His light throughout your life; may you be His body on earth, share Faith, Hope and Love, and use the all the gifts He gives you to bring His Kingdom in.
Praying Together 26 November 2023
They know what they should do. But they don’t do it. It is the ones who do God’s work, who serve without expecting any reward who will receive eternal life in the Kingdom.
Praying Together 19th November 2023
It might not be the trumpet. Or the Clarinet. A Trombone, Double Bass, a singing voice. It may not be music at all. If not, there are many other skills you may have been given that you are not yet aware of: artistic talent, hospitality, compassion, intercession, forgiveness, unconditional love. There will be some.