The day hot, the sun beating down making the land unbearable. People hot, tired and restless for the days long and filled with desperation and anonymity for the less one knew, the safer one was for one kind disliked the other. A man walks along the dirt road, sweaty and exhausted he walks alone yet his eyes say he is not lonely. Parched, he walks to a well and engages in a conversation with a woman.
"Woman, please draw me a drink from this well, the day hot and I have been walking for some time."
"Me, you want me to draw you a drink?"
"Yes, please, I thirst."
"I am a Samaritan and you a Jew, what business have you speaking to me?"
"Are we not both human, if we are cut, would we not bleed? What should I not speak with you?"
"You are a strange man, you speak with me a Samaritan and a woman, you ask me for a drink; why do you disregard your laws as you do? Do you not fear repercussions from your religious?"
"Law are made that we may live not be strangled. There will come a day when man will understand that the laws of my Father are inscribed in their hearts, that all they must do is listen and the heart will lead."
"I do not understand your speech, are you saying that you are God?"
"I am saying that I can give you living water that you may never go thirsty again. Your heart, dear woman, your heart is the key to this life a life of unconditional love connected to the father. Go, get your husband, bring him here."
"I have no husband, sir".
"No you do not, the man you are with is not your husband."
The woman was startled with his response but looked into his eyes and saw no judgment only love so she again spoke, this time about faith.
"I believe the will come, as the Scriptures say, the Messiah, the Anointed One. He will save us from death but from much more, he will save us from ourselves. We follow many rituals, many traditions most of which we understand not, they have become rote actions which we willingly partake that we may adhere to the Law. The Law, please do not find me radical or irreverent, but was made by men, men who may or may not have understood their faith. I want to know, I want to live this freedom of faith. My wish is to live long enough that I may see this Messiah, that I may converse with Him and better understand my faith." As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks. Somewhat embarrassed, she turned from the man attempting to hide he emotion.
"There is no need to hide from me, I know your thoughts, I feel your angst, I believe your words. I am the one you speak of, I am the Messiah. What you have said is true, faith is meant to be an extension of who we are, of how we live, of our every action though it is not meant to inhibit. The purpose of faith is that we may be free to live in God's love. Religious law have become to constraining, their intention was good but they have become brittle and we quickly. Loose sight of our purpose, of our connection with the Father. We must look to the Spirit of the Law which often means disregarding the letter of the Law. Yes, woman, you have faith, live this faith, live your heart and you will be free, you will feel the love and joy of the Father."
The two sat and spoke about faith, about God for hours. Eventually the sun began to sink in the sky, the cool wind chilled their bodies and they decided to depart. The two embrace and the woman knew He was, indeed, the Messiah for love, not judgment, was felt and transferred in a single embrace. They ever saw one another again but the woman spoke about her conversation with the Jew to everyone she met. Some thought her crazy, others a liar, but there's were some who believed her for they were the ones who took but a moment and looked into her eyes, they saw the truth, they felt the truthful her words for the woman began to live her heart just as the man had said.
News of a plot to kill the one called the Messiah had spread to Galilee. Many just laughed at such a plot for the Messiah had yet to arrive, how could they plan to kill him. One person, a woman, was distraught at this news. She gathered some friends and journeyed to Jerusalem. The trip long and difficult, the harsh weather of stale heat by day and cool brisk air by night made for a tiresome journey but the woman was determined to reach Jerusalem quickly. And so, she and her party continued until they made their way to the town square. As they arrived they heard a bell toll and they saw groups of people gathering, many of whom seemed agitated even mad. They made their way to the courtyard where many more gathered, feeling of hatred filled the air making for breath difficult. Still the group of travelers approached the square with hesitation for not only were they women but their dress said they did not belong. As they neared the crowd they heard shouts, mocking and more disturbing they heard, "Crucify Him, crucify him!" Several of the woman did not want to get any closer, but the woman who gathered the group persisted. They soon found themselves almost center stage when a second bell tolled. In unison, they jumped as they did not expect such a haunting sound to echo through their soul. As they made their way through the crowd they realized that everyone's attention was forward. They followed their stares and saw a man belong beaten by Roman guards. His body bloodied and as he stood in a puddle of blood, no sound did he make. With each swing of the whip, the guards seemed to enjoy their job as the crowd rallied with each swing. Finally, the whipping stopped and the man presented to the crowd as if a trophy. The crowd cheered, they yelled, "More, give him more!" With that they began to mock the blood stained man. "King, some king, now crucify him, crucify him!" The mention of king and a Roman guard brought forth a crown made of thorns. Again, the crowd cheered, the echo of their cheers frightened the woman as they watched with disbelief. Blood poured forth from the brow of the man and still he remained silent. At first he was unrecognizable but then he looked up and the woman immediately recognized his eyes; kind, compassionate, loving eyes, it was him, the man she had met at the well; the man she had come to believe to be the Messiah. Tears began to run down her face, thinking themselves a minority among the crowd, one of the women grabbed the arm of their friend and quickly whisked her away fearful of her reaction by the crowd. They went to an isolated garden where the woman wept uncontrollably.
"How, why? Why would they inflict such pain on a man filled with such love? How? I just do not understand. His body so bloodied, mangled almost beyond recognition. He showed nothing but love and they repay him with nothing but hatred. Why?"
With that they could hear the commotion of the crowd, the shouts, the mocking, the hatred continued but it seemed to be traveling. The women went to see what was happening. They found that the crowds had not dispersed only gathered elsewhere. They stopped a man walking toward the commotion, "What is happening, sir?"
"The crucifixion has begun, the crowds line the streets to witness the procession of death which will end at Golgotha." He parted their company.
"We must go, I must see him again."
"Do you think it wise? I mean we are strangers to this land and your tears may bring harsh reactions to us all."
"You need not come if you feel uneasy. I understand but I am going. He told me to listen to my heart and my heart says I must see him one last time"
All of the woman began walking toward the crowd who were becoming increasingly violent. Still they walked with purpose for the words of the woman resonated with each of their souls. They saw the fire in her eyes, they knew their purpose. The finally reached the crowds who, under the burning hot sun, have become more obnoxious. They could hear the snap of the whip and see the blood cover the crowd and still they pushed their way through the crowd all the way to the center of the street where the man was guarded by Roman soldiers, carrying a huge wooden cross. There they stood covered in tears, blocking the path to Golgotha.
"Move women!", shouted a guard.
They stood their ground, prepared for whatever befell them.
Suddenly the procession stopped. Whether the crowd fell silent or their focus so great the world around them stopped, muted. The woman approached the man with the heaven cross, tears in their eyes, they walked toward him, the man she had met at the well. Their eyes connected, still love, still compassion among all this hatred. Their souls spoke, "It will be okay, this is the love of which I spoke. See, you listen with your heart and now you hear, now you live.!" More tears fell from her cheeks, she nodded as if to say, "I heard and understand." She wiped his cheek and kissed him then the guards pushed her and the other woman back into the crowd. That was the last moment she saw the man alive. But she had followed her heart and her reward, love. The woman made their way to the place of the skull where they found the man hanging from the cross which he carried through the streets. He was lofted high in the sky for all to see, for all to know their place in the land, their place among the law. Yet, their reason for the heavy cross missed by those who followed their heart for the magnitude of this cross, for those who listened with their heart, represented a huge victory for it represented love over hatred. The women stopped, knelt in respect to the one they knew to be the Messiah. Their reverence set them apart from most and many began to question their attendance at the crucifixion for the were Samaritan woman; their presence unwelcome. None-the-less, the woman paid homage to the man, the Messiah, who had brought them their greatest gift...faith wrapped in love.
Their journey home filled with sorrow yet love for as they traveled they spoke of faith, they spoke about their purpose in life and how they planned to listen with their hearts. That day forever inscribed in their minds as horrific yet inscribed in their hearts as genuine love.
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