Mealtime

John 4.27-42

Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’ Then the woman left her water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him.


Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’


Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.’


Reflection


Tucked away in this rich passage is Jesus’ observation that “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.” How counterintuitive! Our culture tells us that we are nourished when we receive something. Not so, Jesus teaches us. It is by doing, by serving, that we are fed.


Bearing this in mind, while Lent has formally started, it’s not too late to take up a discipline during this holy season! Pray, serve, study, it doesn’t matter. Just figure out what it is that takes you out of yourself and helps you complete God’s work.

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 11, 2011 at 11:13 AM

    Great message, Steve. Thank you for posting these and making them accessible via Facebook. Ah, the wonders of social media.

    See you on Sunday!
    Jesse W.

    ReplyDelete

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