Session 8
10 March 2015
WITNESS Many believed because of the woman’s testimony (John 4:39)
Exodus 3:13-15 Moses at the Burning Bush
Psalm 30 The Lord restores us to life
Romans 10:14-17 “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
John 4:27-30.39-40 Many believed because of the woman’s testimony
Commentary
With her heart transformed, the Samaritan woman goes out in mission. She announces to her people that she has found the Messiah. Many believed in Jesus “because of the woman’s witness” (John 4:39). The force of her witness stems from the transformation of her life caused by her encounter with Jesus. Thanks to her attitude of openness, she recognised in that stranger “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (Jn 4:14)
Mission is a key element of Christian faith. Every Christian is called to announce the name of the Lord. Pope Francis told missionaries, “wherever you may go, it would do you well to think that the Spirit of God always gets there ahead of us”. Mission is not proselytism. Those who truly announce Jesus approach others in loving dialogue, open to mutual learning, and respecting difference. Our mission requires us to learn to drink from the living water without taking hold of the well. The well does not belong to us. Rather, we draw life from the well, the well of living water which is given by Christ.
Our mission must be a work both of word and witness. We seek to live out what we proclaim. The late Brazilian Archbishop Helder Camara, once said that many have become atheists because they have become disillusioned by people of faith who do not practice what they preach. The witness of the woman led her community to believe in Jesus because her brothers and sisters saw coherence between her words and her own transformation.
If our word and witness is authentic, the world will hear and believe. “How are they to believe if they have not heard?” (Rom 10:14).
Questions
- What is the relationship between unity and mission?
- Do you know people in your community whose life story is a witness to unity?
Prayer
God, spring of living water,
Make of us witnesses of unity through both our words and our lives. Help us to understand that we are not the owners of the well, and give us the wisdom to welcome the same grace in one another.
Transform our hearts and our lives
so that we might be genuine bearers of the Good News.
And lead us always to the encounter with the other,
as an encounter with you.
We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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