Lord, please guide me in reflecting on the following prompts. Again, this almost seems like an out of place "bolt-on" to my current mood and emotional state, but as I've seen previously, you bear fruit anyway. Inhabit this moment, and inhabit me. Animate all aspect of me in a way which let me grow in love for You by growing in love for myself, and especially for others.
What are the barriers that cause you to "other" others in your community today?
Oof. Define barriers. What could be a barrier? I and my prejudices could be a barrier. Time and distance could be a barrier, as in I don't really have an opportunity or the ability to perhaps interact with others to get to know them, without disrupting my very legitimate duties, and to love them in a real way. There could be social pressure. Social pressure in two ways. Social pressure in that some of my loved ones or friends might not want me to make friends with the enemy. But in another way, the enemy might not want to be loving with with me on any terms other than their own. Or at least that's what I'm afraid of. I say enemy, but I don't necessarily mean enemy. More "others."
How does Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman challenge your own biases?
Any time Jesus does something my subconscious tendency is to dismiss it's significance and difficulty in terms of their applicability to me, to some degree, for the simple fact that Jesus is God. But that's distant, stern, KJV Jesus. Not the Jesus who used the bathroom, just like I do.
Jesus was sensitive to peer pressure as well. He honored traditions and mores when they were in line with the Father's will, and he broken them when they were against the Father's will.
If I'm to attempt think through the position Jesus was in, he's interacting with a strange woman, alone, which isn't necessarily smiled upon in those times. He's also talking to someone of an "enemy regime," so to speak. And to an adulterer. At least by the new rules, I'm not sure about the Jewish rules. Jesus, not just by the fact that he was God incarnate, but from a real practical standpoint, was superior to Her. As in, he was sinless, and sin-free, yet very human, while this woman was riddled with sin. He nonetheless not only gave the woman the time of day, but engaged in a small amount of good-natured banter (a sign of respect in my book), and offered her the greatest gift in the universe.
I think what concerns me about this vision is that I don't believe I'm in Jesus's position. Jesus is undebatably above, elevated, superior. Not just to this woman, but to us all. Even in relation to His mother.
Perhaps this is where the catch, or the challenge is. Sure, I'm not Christ, but I am nonetheless supposed to be offering Christ to everyone, because Christ is love. I'm to offer love to all, because Christ is in us all. I think my biases are mostly rooted in fear of my own inferiority. Fear of being "beaten" at something; a debate, out logiced in my actions or decisions... Made to doubt, and driven to double-down, even if I am wrong. But am I naval gazing? Am I internalizing too much? When I really think of others I am sympathetic in almost all cases. Even people who are 100% opposite of what I believe to be right, true, common sense, etc. I can always see that they've had a completely different path to where they are, than I've had to where I am. To no credit or fault of theirs or mine.
What invitations does God give you to break down these barriers in your own life?
In a way, I think I'm already living it. I'm already moving forward. I mean, I'm typically pretty Blue and yet during the Bluest of my days I was called back to the Church, in an above average degree of Red part of the country. An institution "riddled" with people whom I disagree with to some degree or another. I mean, we also agree on many things, too. But even within our agreements, we disagree on the "how." Like living faith, and treatment of the poor, what "pro life" actually means or should entail. Or more importantly, how it ought to be gone about. Nonetheless, I find I love these people, and I can (and am) ministering to many of these people. In some way. So in that way I already am....sort of breaking down barriers.
But I also feel superior to some of these people in some ways. And perhaps in some ways it's true. Perhaps I am "ahead of the curve" on one or two things. Perhaps. But, Jesus was vastly superior to the woman at the well, and didn't act superior. She'd committed "crimes" for which she was undeniably guilty, but he didn't care about that. He mentioned it as a display of his divinity, so as to convince her. He did it gently, and used that power to soften her heart and to bring her, and others, to Him. He used her sins for her and for others.
While my actions may be loving, mostly, my heart does not yet love. Not all the way. I still judge. I still patronize and pity in the quiet of my mind, or with like minded people in my sphere, like my wife. Which of course is a sin and causes her to sin. Obviously my actions are evolving, but my heart is lagging. The invitation is to convert my heart. To breakdown the subconscious dislikes, or even hates, and to love. Not to love everything others do, or that I do, but to love them, and myself, unconditionally, and to act like Christ and treat them like Christ.
A tall order which I can only ask for guidance for because I am at a loss as to how to achieve that. That's cultivating love, and love is a virtue which only comes from God. I can only ask and surrender, and act as best I can. Trying to listen to God.
Ask God to reveal any hidden biases.
Lord, yes....please reveal hidden biases. Or make my biases irrelevant. Supplant them with effusive unstoppable love for you and for others. And overtime, may that deep, toxic, negative ruts fill in, while new, good ruts are carved elsewhere in my heart.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.