Encounter at High Noon by Dr Aoanan

8/9/2019 Encounter at High Noon by Dr Aoanan

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ENCOUNTERATHIGHNOONHomily Delivered byREV. MELANIO L. AOANAN, THD

CHURCH AMONG THE PALMS (CAP), UP Los Banos, College, Lagua

on March 3, 2002

The woman said to him, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet Jesus saidto her, Woman believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountainnor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father But the hour is coming, andnow is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in

truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those whoworship him must worship him in spirit and truth.(John 4:19-24).

As we continue with our Lenten journey of faith, I would like us to reflect

upon the most significant stories about an encounter with Jesus at high

noon.

Visualize yourself in a backward rural barangay with no electricity neither a

pipe running water. It is the beginning of summer and the only source of

water is the ancient well situated outside the village.

The well outside the village becomes the center of community life. Women,

both young and not so young, gather around the well to do laundry, draw

water, and also hear about the latest talk-of-the-town or chismiss. Water

is a basic commodity for human existence. Usually, people come to the well

very early morning when the sun is not yet hot in order to draw water for

the days requirement.

But there was this woman who comes to draw water everyday. She comes

when there are no people at Jacob's well. Why does this woman draw water


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at an unholy hour, at high noon? But that particular day, there was a man

at Jacob's well. And so, there was this encounter at high noon between

Jesus and this unnamed woman. This encounter at high noon tells us

much about this woman as well as how Jesus deals with a woman like her.

First of all, we learn that this woman has a messy marital life. At one point

in the conversation (vv 16-18), Jesus told her: Go, call your husband, and

come back. She answered: Sir, I have no husband. But Jesus, who

knows much about her messy marital life, said: You are right in saying I

have no husband, for you have had five husbands, and the one you have

now is not your husband. What you have said is true.

You see, what the woman was trying to hide was unmasked during the

encounter at high noon. Mas maliwanag sa tanghaling tapat! This was the

reason why she has to come and draw water at high noon.

Despite her messy marital life, Jesus related with the woman in a nice way.

Jesus talks with her in a non-judgmental way. As you read the story again

when you go home this noon, you will find that the Samaritan woman is

never judged as a sinner by Jesus. Instead, she is portrayed as a model of

growing faith. The story tells us that the womans faith grow as she comes

to entertain the possibility that Jesus might be the Messiah (4: 29).

Secondly, the story about this encounter at high noon tells us of the

cultural enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans. Jesus instantly

bridges this cultural enmity. Take note that Jesus was there at the well firstbefore the woman arrived. Jesus must have been tired and thirsty after a

long journey especially because of the summer sun. As soon as the woman

came, Jesus said: Give a drink.


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That request for refreshing water to drink at high noon was Jesus strategy

of bridging the cultural gap between the Jews and the Samaritans. Jesus

request for water to drink was a demonstration of a non-judgmental love

that reduces the existing tension between a Jew and a Samaritan woman.

In fact the scriptures testify that this kind of love does far more than reduce

tension - it in fact gives life - it gives hope - it gives assurance - to all who

receive it.

Non-judgmental, affirming and all embracing love is the essence of the

gospel message. Jesus accepts and embraces those whom others find

wanting. He loves those who seem unlovable - to others - and to

themselves.

This non-judgmental love was a start of a significant theological

conversation between the woman and Jesus. This meaningful theological

conversation at Jacobs well at high noon covered topics about springs of

living water, worship of God in Mt Gerizim and Jerusalem, coming hour

of worshipping God in Spirit and truth, and the special food that Jesus

have to eat, etc. That conversation was very fruitful because it culminated

in the conversion of the woman and the people in the village with whom she

witnessed.

Finally, after the significant theological conversation, after that encounter

at high noon, the woman left her water jar and went back to the city and

told all the people, Come and see a man who told me everything I have

ever done. Can this be the Christ? (v 29). From a woman with a messymarital life she became one of the earliest missionaries of the gospel. She

witnessed about how Jesus non-judgmental love has transformed her

miserable and messy marital life.


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You too can have a significant, transformative encounter with the Christ at

the high noon of your life, just as you can encounter the Lord in the

morning of your life, Just as you can encounter the Lord in the twilight of

your life. Like the Samaritan woman, afflicted by her messy marital life, and

yet, she was one to whom the good news has come in an unexpected place

at unexpected time. Indeed, she encountered the Lord as high noon of her

life.

Jesus is inviting us to encounter him once more as we celebrate

communion at the Lords table.

Word count: 894 words

CAPSermon 2002-03-03

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Encounter at High Noon by Dr Aoanan