I am generally a rule follower rather than a rule breaker. For example, I don’t cross the street unless the light says “WALK.” But I will confess that many years ago, when I was in college, I actually cut part of a class in order to watch the announcement that a cardinal from Poland had just become Pope John Paul II.
Jesus was much more of a rule breaker than a rule follower, especially when generally accepted rules of behavior seemed to deprive people of their God-given dignity. A case in point is the Samaritan woman, who should have been avoided by Jesus first, because she was a Samaritan, a member of a group despised by the Jews; second, because she was a woman; and third, because, as the longer version of the gospel implies, she had questionable relationships with men. Jesus not only speaks directly to the Samaritan woman but he actually initiates their conversation.
The living water that we receive in baptism is much more than a cleansing water or even a transformative water. It is an empowering water. It should empower us to uphold the dignity of God’s people whenever that dignity is threatened—even if that means breaking a rule of behavior accepted by those around us. If we have family members who are ostracized by relatives because of some past mistake or misunderstanding, we ought to be the ones who embrace them. If we see people in the office or on the school campus who are being harassed or ridiculed because they are different, we ought to be the ones who defend them. If we encounter leaders who treat with contempt those entrusted to their care, we ought to be the ones who call for change.
Let us remember that human rules of behavior, no matter how popular, are simply that: human rules of behavior. They may be completely contrary to God’s rules of behavior. For that reason, breaking those human rules may be just the right thing to do.
ANNUAL DIOCESAN APPEAL WEEK 5
WE ARE GRATEFUL to all who have participated in the Annual Diocesan Appeal! At 67% of our goal, we are only $65,318 from success. Please help make our success reality. If you have not yet turned in your pledge, please join the 179 parishioners (9% of our parish) who are already part of this effort. Remember that our parish will get a rebate of anything over 100% of our goal. Donate online at DSJ.org. Your pledge is important to our diocese and to our parish!!