12-Mar-23 (John 4:5-42)

Have you ever been playing, out on a playground at school or in a park near your home and saw another child, off by themselves with no one to play with? Why do you think that happens? [Wait for answers]
The story from the gospel for today tells about Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a well. It's sort of like meeting someone you didn't expect at the drinking fountain. The people of Jesus didn't like the Samaritans and the Samaritans didn't like the people of Jesus either. They both thought the others dressed funny, talked a bit strange, and worshiped in odd ways. Neither Samaritans or Jews really wanted to have anything to do with each other.
But Jesus sat right down and talked to her. That surprised both the woman and Jesus' disciples a lot. He talked to her about her life and he talked to her about the one who God would send to help people to know how much God loved them, whether they were Jews or Samaritans! He even let her know that he was that one who God had already sent.
She was so excited she went and told all the people in the village where she lived and many of them came by to talk with Jesus too.
So the next time you see someone off by themselves with no one to be with, who might look a little different or wear different types of clothes, how about walking over and talking with them? You don't need to talk about Jesus right away. It's probably best to show them that Jesus cares about them by being kind to them first.

Let's pray and ask God for help with meeting people who are different from us.
God, we thank you that you love us enough to send us Jesus to show us your love for us. Help us to show people we meet, especially those who don't look like they have other friends, how much you care about them by being kind and friendly to them.
We pray in Jesus' name.
AMEN.