In this story, Jesus has just met the Samaritan woman at the well, and gave her water, and revealed himself as the Messiah. This was a big deal because she had several strikes against her – wrong gender and wrong tribe. An outsider to be sure. The disciples, or insiders are surprised that Jesus has done this, but although they wondered, they did not ask. But Jesus knew what they were thinking.
He explained to them that the harvest is ready where they were. The people – outsider Samaritans – were ripe for the Word of God, just as the woman at the well had been. He encouraged the disciples into the community and spread God’s good news.
After this, we hear that many in the village came to believe. Not because of what the disciples had done, but because of what the woman had said.
There is an interesting and ironic twist in this story, that I think is more important than Jesus telling his disciples to go out because the harvest is ready. If you look at the arc of the story, Jesus goes out into the wild world to encounter ‘the other’. He isn’t seeking an encounter. He wants water, something that’s plain and something he’d have done a dozen times a day. It is in that mundane activity, where he encounters the woman. It’s in that unexpected and mundane moment the Good News of God is revealed to her. For our trip, there will likely be constructed moments where discipleship and harvesting the field are the intended outcome. And there will be many moments before and after those, where we can encounter the woman at the well. We’ll be able to encounter someone, unscripted, unplanned, unintended, and by being God’s people and doing God’s work, we can share the Good News of God’s immense and unbelievable love. Note to self: don’t wait for the official ministry moments.
Another lesson here is the action and interaction between Jesus and his disciples. He’s ministering to the woman at the well, and he’s working with ‘the outsiders’. The insiders are aghast, although they don’t say anything to him. Jesus needs to remind them of the work they are to do. He says to them that although they may not look ready, the fields are ripe – go harvest. Go spread God’s love. Their reaction, is to question why he’s talking to her. I’m not sure if they’re protective of their inner sanctum, or threatened by the differences of those with whom they’re working. But for whatever reason, Jesus needs to remind them again what they’re supposed to be doing. Go out with God’s Command – Love God. Love your Neighbor. Don’t wait until you think things are ready. They’re ready now. Go. In settings with church insiders, whether the clergy with which I work, or members of congregations, or possibly this mission group, sometimes we put up barriers to protect the group, we don’t do God’s work with outsiders, because we want to protect the group, or feel this isn’t the right moment. Instead, urgently and repeatedly, Jesus commands, Go. Love God. Love your Neighbor. Now.
The final irony in this story is that there is some wonderful Good News Sharing, and it comes from an unexpected source. The woman, the social outcast even in her world, returns to her people and tells them of God’s Good News. They believed in Jesus because of her testimony. She, the outsider of the story. She was not the major players, or the ones who get the pep talk about going into the world. She didn’t need it. She knew of God’s power and love. She experienced the commandment of Love your Neighbor, from her encounter with Jesus at the well. Jesus demonstrated what Love your Neighbor looks like. She believed because of what she heard and saw. And she, without prompting became the star harvester in this story.
I’m thinking about the fact that while the intended moments for ministry are wonderful, it can happen anywhere with anyone.
Finally, I’m thinking about the risk for arrogance, to think that I am called to spread God’s Good News to everyone there. Like in Jesus encounter with the Samaritan woman, I’m called to share God’s love with one person. To build up that person so they can go be the harvesters. In this story, it’s the outsider woman who harvested, without having been asked to do so. Because although she was an outsider to Jesus’ band of disciples, she was much less of an outsider within her community.
Yes, I’m called to go. As St. Francis of Assisi said, Spread the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words. But like people in this story, I’m called to share the Gospel so others can share the Gospel. The field is not solely mine to harvest. I’m thinking about the ways to share the harvesting with the people I encounter. That lightens the work for everyone, and lets the local people speak and act in their community. Today, I want to think about being more like Tom Sawyer, and figure out how to get others to help paint the fence. I’ll spread God’s Good News through actions, and pray they can continue to spread that news. Love God. Love your Neighbor.
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