Allowing ourselves to be surprised
Looking at two Gospel icons, I think they have something to say to everyone of usthat of the Samaritan woman at the well (Jn. 3:5-42) and the Samaritan man who shows compassion on the road (Lk. 10: 29-37). A real lesson can be learned in these episodes of allowing ourselves to be surprised in our everyday life.
The Samaritan woman: a woman who lives an unvaried, routine, boring, everyday life because of her need to have to go everyday to the well to fetch water. And it is exactly in this situation that she receives the surprise of an affective and spiritual adventure that changes everything! We too may experience a similar adventure if with the limits of our everyday, routine living ~ which is the truest reality ~ we learn to dialogue with curiosity and courage, opening the door of our heart to encounters that ~ at first ~ do not seem to promise much.
It can happen in any life, but I feel it is especially sad to see religious people living a dull and grey everyday life because within themselves they are not alive, but just resigned and depressed ~ half dead! Defending themselves all the time and full of prejudices... there is no desire for Life!
The icon of the Samaritan man, teaches that the everyday living may be full of insecurities but that one must react to it by placing signs of assurance and effective solutions, even for the future. Today the "half-dead" are of all kinds along the road, fear of living and anguish for the signs of violence and death...
The Comboni Missionaries journey towards renewal, of being and sharing Hope, of being surprised by and sharing the signs of Life in the ordinary living of the mission.
