The fields white for harvest

Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’ Then the woman left her water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.’

- John 4:27-42

The story of the Samaritan woman at the well continues in today's passage (see also the readings from Thursday and Friday). In today's passage, the disciples come upon Jesus speaking with this woman. They are amazed that he is speaking with a woman, any woman. It was forbidden for Jews to converse publicly with a woman. She, also, is a Samaritan woman, from among the people considered enemies of the Jews. My study bible points out that Jesus' words and actions transcend ethnic and gender related customs of the time. Clearly, his gospel, his presence, is for everyone, at all times.

This Samaritan woman - to whom Jesus has revealed himself and his identity - effectively becomes the first evangelist. She goes and tells the people in the city about Jesus and bring them to him. In an early Church tradition, this woman was considered to have been baptized after the Resurrection and given the Christian name Photini ("the enlightened one" - "phos" means "light"). With her two sons and five daughters she went to Carthage to spread the gospel. She and her family were arrested there, taken to Rome under Nero, imprisoned and later martyred. She remains an inspiration and is considered a saint in the Eastern Church.

The disciples encourage Jesus to eat, to which he replies, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." Once again, John's gospel relates a story in which Jesus' words are misunderstood, and used to draw out truth in order to reveal deeper hidden spiritual meanings. "Surely no one has brought him something to eat?" the disciples reply. Jesus tells them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more, then comes the harvest'? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting." My study bible says that Jesus' food "is to bring people to believe in Him and be saved." My study bible also notes that as the townspeople are brought to Jesus by the woman later called St. Photini, they approach in what was thought to be traditional white dress. So the image is of the fields "white for harvest" in the original Greek. In this part of the Near East, it is also a common expression to this day to say that someone who is "pure in heart" has a "white heart." Jesus' harvest are those he will draw to himself and who will be drawn to him in return, those who are ready to hear and receive his word.

"The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps." My study bible notes that the Father is the sower, and Jesus is the reaper. Jesus is making an observation about how this relationship in spirit and truth works. All who invest in sowing and reaping help one another through the course of time. In this eternal kingdom brought into the setting of our world, time is bridged from teacher to pupil to teacher again; what is sown by some will be reaped by others through time. "I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour." The preparation for this harvest takes shape in many hands: the apostles will reap where the Father has sown and Jesus has gone first. So it is also that others are referred to who have prepared the way - Patriarchs, teachers, prophets, John the Baptist and more. In the communion of saints, all work together for this labor and harvest. And the work continues to the present time with us, today.

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world. The Samaritans, my study bible points out, "are the first to recognize Jesus as Savior of the world. The gospel is for all people." This harvest happens because of one woman's talk with Jesus. He eventually accepts to stay with these people for two days. They want to hear him for themselves - and they believe for themselves, because of what they hear for themselves. I think it's essential that we understand the truth in this story for all of us today. It's important to find faith for oneself, to be challenged by Jesus' words for oneself. This is a living, eternal presence brought into our world. We worship in spirit and in truth. As the "living water" this is something flowing, vibrant, alive, always giving. I encourage all my readers to find this reality for themselves: read, study and pray. Find the living water that is real and vibrant in your heart and make your connection with it as did these Samaritan people. Find Him for yourself, not just because someone else told you about it. It is still the same harvest, the same process, happening today, for you.

Remember, also, the people today in this part of the world who are descendants of the people of St. Photini, and remember them in their struggle as they continue in her faith where the church was born.