Continuum

Those who do the work are not always the ones who receive the benefit of that work.

For here the saying holds true, "One sows and another reaps." I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.' - John 4:37-39

In today's Gospel reading, we have the followup to the story of the Samaritan woman at the well.

Jesus had encountered this woman alone at the well in the middle of the day, long after all the other women had come to take water.

He surprised her, not just because he spoke with her directly without others around, but because he knew all about her.  And so she went to the city and told others about him.

When the disciples returned with food, they urged him to eat, but his response was cryptic.  He told them he has food they don't know about, and they had no idea what he was talking about.

It is then that he tells them of their work, completing the work of the one who sent him, reaping what others have sown.

When we think of all we do as part of a bigger picture, it changes our perspective on ourselves.  We are vital in God's work, whether we feel we are successful or not.

How many have come before and laid the groundwork upon which we build?

It also changes our perspective on how important we are in the process.  We don't accomplish the goal alone, but complete what was started long before.

We are part of God's plan, and though we have no idea what that plan is, nor can we convince ourselves that it is real, we play a role.

When the Samaritan woman left Jesus, his work was done.  He had spoken with her and planted the seeds of change.  She had to take the next steps, talking with people who had previously rejected her.

They then had to come see for themselves, and so they became believers.

No one player sees the whole picture, but all are part of the continuum, and that is how God works.

So, who are we to judge our value in that process?  For all we know, we could be the key to a major act of grace.  And we might never know what we did.

More to come...