Sermons

An Encounter at the Well

The Rev. Eric K. Hinds
Rector, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

Sermon preached by The Reverend Eric Kimball Hinds at The Episcopal Church of Saint Matthew, San Mateo, California, on 24 February 2008, The Third Sunday in Lent. Lessons: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42.

The rugged features, thick mustache and resonant voice of David Plainview are rendered presentable by his wearing a white shirt, tie, and a three piece brown tweed suit. With adopted son H.W., a wide-eyed earnest boy at his side, his image is further softened so that when one hears him utter “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am an oil man” there is a respectability that immediately attaches to his words. And when David Plainview assures his gathered audience that he is a family man--that family is important to him, he looks and sounds both reputable and honest. The movie, There Will be Blood, opens with the central character, David Plainview, descending deep into a dry hole of the earth prospecting for silver. As the story unfolds his prospecting continues, and with much effort, toil and sweat, David not only discovers oil, but is able to convince others that he has their best interests at heart in leasing their oil rich land. David Plainview achieves great success by drilling wells down into the earth and bringing thick black oil up to the surface. As the movie goes on we learn that David’s true self is fed by a hunger for wealth and power, which likewise connects to a well that extends deep below the surface. And so the notion of a well is a rich metaphor; and as a setting it provides and interesting backdrop for an encounter.

In ancient times a well was both a gathering place and a life-line for a community. A shimmering pool of water even at the bottom of a deep shaft could reflect the faces of those gazing upon the surface or it could seem a pool of impenetrable blackness--connecting to a mystery beyond knowing, all while yielding life giving water to those who send their a bucket down. While resting from his journey Jesus encounters a lone women at a well. She is a Samaritan woman--on the surface doubly to be shunned. First of all a women unescorted in the public square; and also a Samaritan—a religious sect scorned and not trusted despite many common beliefs with Judaism.

In ancient times women gathered at the well in groups; either in the cool of the morning or evening. Set at midday the encounter between Jesus and the unnamed woman is marked as unusual from the outset. Breaking all convention Jesus speaks first and asks for a drink. Attempting to comprehend the situation the woman tries to make sense of the fact that Jesus is even talking to her let alone apparently willing to receive a drink from her hand. When Jesus talks about living water the woman is further confused, and yet Jesus draws out of her the fact that this is Jacob’s well--important to the Samaritans for the tradition that the patriarchs and Moses represent. By contrast Jesus stands in the Davidic Tradition of expectations for a King of the Jews connected with Jerusalem and not Mt. Gerizim as with the Samaritans. It is in the course of this conversation that the woman bestows upon Jesus the title of prophet, and they move on to what is actually a deep theological discussion. Jesus concedes that neither Jews nor Samaritans have the whole truth; that God will be worshiped not exclusively in Jerusalem or on Mt. Gerizim but by true followers in Spirit and Truth. It is an extraordinary exchange even when we introduce the part about the 5 husbands—for some have seen in that discussion a straightforward reference to a lack of marital commitment on the part of the woman—while others have understood the reference to be indicating the religious infidelity of the Samaritans--worshiping the false gods of the five foreign tribes after their Assyrian captivity. Their conversation eventually moves on to the consideration, and then revelation of Jesus as the messiah, at which point their encounter in interrupted by the return of the disciples. It is then that the woman at the well travels back to the city and spreads the word of her encounter with Jesus.

Now, an obvious function of this story--the story of the Samaritan women at the well is as a witness of the way that Jesus reached out to people who were marginalized. In this case the exclusion is both by gender and religious practice--but what perhaps most deserves our notice--Is the way that Jesus engaged an individual who if he were to follow social custom should have been shunned--not even given the time of day.

Imagine another way to encounter the woman, perhaps a step just below shunning. Imagine a political debate in the public square (it’s not hard in this season) between Jesus and Samaritan Woman, each battering away at entrenched belief systems looking to turn a clever phrase--land a memorable sound byte, with the intent of making the other look bad. When we stand back and survey the meeting at the well, we realize that Jesus initiated an encounter--shattering all expectations that encouraged the woman to open up and share her thoughts and feelings and past. In the process one has the overwhelming sense that her life was affirmed, recognized, and valued. It is as if Jesus has called forth a new person.

During the season of Lent we venture to devote time to an inward inventory of those things, qualities or areas of our life that are in need of reform or repair. Self-examination is never an easy venture. From the beginning of the move, There will be Blood, David Plainview’s darker nature is reflected nowhere at the surface. Slowly one comes to understand the depth of his self-absorption to the exclusion of all else. Perhaps the great tragedy of the story is that the great reservoir of darkness buried deep down--that haunt’s David’s character, never wells up to engage the redemptive light of God’s acceptance, grace, and love.

By contrast, in the book Surprised by Joy, C.S. Lewis recounts how while still an atheist, his contemplation of the Christian faith lead him to an awareness of the sense that he was holding something at bay or shutting something out. “It was as if” said Lewis “I was wearing some stiff clothing, like corsets, or even a suit of armor, as if I were a lobster.” Lewis continued “…I examined myself with a seriously practical purpose. And there I found” said Lewis “What appalled me; a zoo of lusts, a bedlam of ambitions, a nursery of fears, and a harem of fondled hatreds.” About his experience, Lewis reflected “I did not then see what is now the most shining and obvious thing; the Divine humility which will accept a convert on such terms.” Of his experience, Lewis concludes that “The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men…”

God calls us, each of us--not only to a closer examination of ourselves, but to an ongoing conversion by which the depths of our being encounter the well spring of life offered by Christ Jesus. The life offered is not a superficial one skimming along the surface; God is ever calling--ever ready to plumb the depths of our lives. A faith--perhaps not for the faint of heart; for it is a faith that probes, and digs deep below the surface; and yet to those who seek an encounter with our redeeming God--to them is offered nothing less than living waters that cleanse and refresh the depths of the soul. Waters, that if we pause to partake, promise to quench our thirst for a deeper more meaningful life, and a deeper life of faith.

Sermons

An Encounter at the Well

The Rev. Eric K. Hinds Rector, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

Sermon preached by The Reverend Eric Kimball Hinds at The Episcopal Church of Saint Matthew, San Mateo, California, on 24 February 2008, The Third Sunday in Lent. Lessons: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42.

The Rev. Eric K. Hinds
Rector, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church